A 23-year-old man presented with hypotension secondary to a left hemothorax. Diagnostic studies revealed a left cervical arch associated with a redundant tortuous pseudocoarctation in the proximal descending thoracic aorta. Operative exploration revealed an aortic rupture just proximal to the pseudocoarctation. 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 Society of Thoracic Surgeons.