title: Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta.
abstract: Between 1968 and 1981, 25 patients with acute traumatic rupture of the aorta were treated at the University of Virginia. Twenty-two of these patients (88%) had serious concomitant injuries. The aortic tear was just distal to the left subclavian artery in 19 patients (76%), and at other sites in six patients (24%). Lacerations were at multiple sites in three patients (12%), in the ascending aorta in one (4%), in the distal aortic arch in two (8%), and in the descending aorta well beyond the subclavian artery in six (24%). Two of the patients (8%) died of free rupture of the aorta before reaching the operating room. The other 23 patients (92%) had operation and 17 (68%) survived. At least ten of the 17 survivors (59%), with an average follow-up of seven years, do not have a disability as a result of the injury. In this group, 24 of the 25 traumatic aortic injuries (96%) occurred in the distal aortic arch or the descending aorta and could be repaired through a left posterolateral thoracotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tribble
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Crosby
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates