Traumatic ruptures of the thoracic aorta: diagnosis and treatment of 66 cases

Abstract

Traumatic aortic rupture is a dehiscence of a part (or all) of the aortic wall, usually occurring secondary to a severe accident that includes intense deceleration of the body (5). It results in acute traumatic aortic transection (when patients are seen within 15 days of the accident). When seen later the lesions are described as posttraumatic aneurysms or chronic aortic ruptures. Anatomical and pathophysiological features related to the prevalence of isthmic location have been extensively reported. Depending on the extent of the laceration, which may or may not include the adventitia and/or the mediastinal pleura, death occurs immediately or in a declining rate of several hours or days. It has been reported that 40% of untreated patients died within 48 h of hospital admission.