Rupture of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Postpartum: 2 Cases Report

Korean J Legal Med 2013;37:161-166. English.

Department of Pathology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea

Division of Forensic Medicine, Southern District Office, National Forensic Service, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam, Korea

Division of Forensic Medicine, Eastern District Office, National Forensic Service, Wonju-si, Gangwon, Korea, zzeva@korea.kr

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are less common than abdominal aortic aneurysms, however they are life-threatening and usually asymptomatic until acute complications occur. The majority of thoracic aorta aneurysm are associated with medial degeneration rather than atherosclerosis and the fusiform aortic aneurysm is common. Considering that it usually occurs during the sixth and seventh decades of life, its occurrence in a peripartum woman is unusual. Aortic dissection or thoracic aortic aneurysm with aortic insufficiency during pregnancy or peripartum has been reported, however, to our knowledge, the case of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm in peripartum women, with saccular type without aortic valve involvement but not diffuse dilatation, has not been reported. Herein, we presented two autopsy cases of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm during postpartum.

Key Words : Thoracic aorta, Aneurysm, Peripartum

Case report