La dissection aortique fatale chez le sujet jeune : à propos de quatre observations

Abstract

Acute dissection of the aorta represents a rare cause of sudden death of cardiac origin in a young person. It
essentially occurs in victims suffering from hereditary or congenital dystrophic disorders. We report on 4 observations
of fatal aortic dissection, discovered at autopsy, occurring in young patients aged between 17 and 22 years of age
with autopsies carried out in the department of forensic medicine in Tunis. In three cases, the victims had Marfan's
syndrome and the 4th case involved a young man who had coarctation of the aorta associated with a bicuspid aortic
valve.
Thanks to these cases we discuss the particular aspects of aortic dissection in young people, the various etiologies
and the necessary preventive measures.