title: Acute onset of chronic aortic dissection presenting as abdominal pain.
abstract: A 54-year-old male patient developed acute onset of chronic aortic dissection manifesting as primarily abdominal pain. A prompt diagnosis was made and urgent surgery was carried out successfully under profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. Prompt surgery is mandatory for such patients in order to prevent abrupt rupture. The awareness of possible aortic dissection is the key point leading to an early diagnosis in patients with atypical presentations.
authors.affiliation: The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. shi_min_yuan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shi-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Salis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tager
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged