Cervical aortic arch with pseudocoarctation: Presentation with spontaneousrupture

A 23-year-old man presented with hypotension secondary to a left hemothorax . Diagnostic studies revealed a left cervical arch associated with a redund ant tortuous pseudocoarctation in the proximal descending thoracic aorta. O perative exploration revealed an aortic rupture just proximal to the pseudo coarctation. Resection of the diseased aorta and tube graft replacement was performed under circulatory arrest. The patient was discharged home on the 12th postoperative day. (Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:248-50) (C) 1999 by The S ociety of Thoracic Surgeons.