A Surgical Case of Spontaneous Rupture of the Thoracic Aorta during Nine Years of Steroid Therapy

Abstract

A man in his eighties, on steroid therapy for nine years because of nephrotic syndrome, was admitted to our hospital with sudden-onset chest and back pain. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a small bleeding point at the descending aorta. There were no signs of aortic dissection, and others. The patient was diagnosed with spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed. Postoperative CT confirmed successful coverage of the bleeding point with the stent graft. We considered that the aortic wall was weakened by steroids, resulting in thoracic aortic rupture.