[Aortic intramural hematoma fissuration: atypical presentation in an aircraft pilot].

Aortic intramural hematoma is a life-threatening thoracic aortic pathology. In this report we describe a case of fissuration of an aortic intramural hematoma with atypical clinical presentation, which occurred in an aircraft pilot. The patient was admitted to our emergency room with transient chest pain developed during a flight landing, followed only by persistent abdominal pain. The ECG and cardiac enzymes were normal. A portable two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram showed aortic root dilation and pericardial effusion. Transesophageal echocardiography showed aortic intramural hematoma with fissuration into the pericardial space. The angio-computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Two hours after admission the patient, with signs of cardiac tamponade, underwent Bentall surgical intervention without complications.