Abstract
Serious acute aortic syndrome (rupture, dissection, transection) may rarely occur in direct association with a sporting activity. In such a case, physically healthy and usually young individuals are suddenly at a serious risk of death.
Damage to the aortic wall occurs after exceeding the integrity limits resulting from either excessive hypertension or shear stress during deceleration trauma. Extreme hypertensive overload has been documented in the course of isometric exercise.
Deceleration trauma typically occurs in certain types of sports (parachuting, paragliding, downhhill skiing), but has also been reported in various other sporting activities. In literature reviews, sometimes bizarre clinical scenarios and decreased physician's vigilance are of note.
A morphologically severe aortic injury necessitates a promt surgical or endovascular treatment. Only in the case of minimal aortic injury, the treatment is conservative.