A Chinese man’s assumption that his facial swelling was just a bad hangover nearly cost him his life. The 33-year-old’s symptoms, which began after a night of drinking and subsequent exercise, were initially misdiagnosed as kidney-related. But when standard treatments failed and his condition deteriorated, doctors uncovered something far more serious – a ruptured heart aneurysm.
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The rare condition, known as RSOVA, occurs when part of the heart’s aortic wall weakens, balloons outward, and tears. In this case, physicians believe the combination of alcohol and vigorous physical activity triggered the rupture. What made the diagnosis challenging was the presentation – instead of typical chest pain, the patient exhibited facial swelling and later, abdominal distension and breathing difficulties.
Emergency physicians at Qilu Hospital eventually identified a 27mm aneurysm affecting one of the heart chambers. Their report in the Journal of Medical Case Reports emphasizes how this condition can mimic other illnesses, leading to dangerous delays in treatment. Fortunately, prompt surgery saved the man’s life, with full recovery taking about 18 months.
