Skating on thin ice

Aortic dissection is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic disorder. It typically occurs in older patients but can be seen in younger patients (usually with predisposing conditions). Aortic dissections can be classified into 2 types: type A dissections that involve the ascending aorta and type B dissections that do not involve the ascending aorta. We report a case of a teenager with a type B aortic dissection after a seemingly trivial inciting event. This article reviews important features of aortic dissection including diagnosis and management.