Acute onset of chronic aortic dissection presenting as abdominal pain.

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.