Rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm in a patient with hypertension, myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia and operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture after follow-up for 28 years

Abstract

A Japanese man who died at age 86 had been followed since the age of 58, when he presented with hypertension of 150/95 mmHg. The patient remained socially active until he died suddenly of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm, although he experienced angina pectoris in August 1974, and myocardial infarction was identified on electrocardiography in October 1974. He underwent operation for rectal cancer in 1987, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm 38mm in diameter was identified at that time. The patient underwent an operation for rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm in 1991. A thoracic aneurysm of 40 mm diameter was identified in 1995, and this expanded to 53 mm by 1997. Autopsy revealed a thoracic aortic aneurysm in the arch (8 x 5 x 5 cm) and descending aorta (7 x 7 x 8 cm). A large volume (2,080 ml) of bloody pleural fluid was present