Aortic dissection and pericardial tamponade causing compression of the pulmonary arteries in a patient with prior cardiac surgery

Abstract

A patient with prior aortic valve surgery presented with aortic dissection and pericardial tamponade, with subsequent compression of the pulmonary arteries. While both expanding pericardial effusions and aortic dissections have been reported to cause compression of other adjacent structures, compression of the pulmonary artery vasculature in a patient with prior cardiac surgery has never been described. In this case report, we highlight this situation, which may have occurred because of alterations in the pericardial and mediastinal spaces.