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This article discusses the case of a 68-year-old Caucasian man who complained of chest pain following an air flight from France to England. His chest pain was described as sharp, pleuritic and severe. The pain was also associated with shortness of breath, sweatiness, nausea and the patient feeling hot. Particular focus is given to his medical history, along with the results of his laboratory tests and electrocardiogram (ECG). Aortic dissection was detected via computed tomography pulmonary angiography. The patient died after undergoing an eight-hour operation that involved aortic root and valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is an autosomal dominant disorder which affects both smooth and skeletal muscles. The incidence is approximately 1 in 8,000 births. It is the most common muscular dystrophy to manifest in adulthood, and the second most common skeletal muscle disorder after Duchenne MD. Cardiac rhythm disturbances are a common cause of death in these patients. This lesson describes a case in which a previously undiagnosed case of MD presented with an episode of ventricular fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]