Fatal Bleeding Disorder as the First Manifestation of a Giant Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract

Aortic aneurysms are a rare cause of consumption coagulopathy. We describe an 82-year old woman with a previously unrecognized giant aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. The first manifestation of this condition was hemoptysis that was due to an exacerbation of chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation. The patient eventually died despite intensive conservative treatment, as she declined late surgical intervention. This case underscores the need to exclude aortic aneurysms by performing a chest X-ray in elderly patients with bleeding disorders.