Hypertensive emergency associated with thoracoabdominal aneurysm: Case report and review

Objective: To provide a description and thorough discussion of the diagnostic considerations for a rare case of malignant hypertension and aortic aneurysm in a pediatric patient. Design:Case report. Setting: A university pediatric intensive care unit. Subject: A young child with a hypertensive crisis and a thoracoabdominal false aortic aneurysm. Interventions: The child required urgent surgical intervention to resect the aneurysm and aggressive medical therapy in the pediatric intensive care unit to treat the underlying hypertension. Conclusions: Hypertensive emergencies and aortic aneurysms are unusual but potentially lethal entities in pediatric patients, requiring a high index of suspicion, prompt initiation of medical therapy, and urgent surgical consultation.