Rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm after prosthetic bypass from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta in a case of congenital aortic arch hypoplasia

An unusual case of a successfully operated ruptured thoracic aneurysm of the aorta with bleeding into the atelectatic pulmonary left lower lobe and acute occlusion of the prosthesis in a 28-year-old woman is reported. The underlying disease was congenital aortic arch hypoplasia still present following implantation of a prosthetic bypass from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta performed in 1963.