Injuries of branches of the aortic arch.
Injuries to the carotid, subclavian, axillary and vertebral arteries have comprised 19.5% of vascular trauma seen at Westmead Hospital during the period 1979-86. The cause of injury was penetrating trauma in 38.5% of cases, and blunt trauma, due mainly to motor vehicle or motor bike accident, in 61.5% of cases. In most cases (77%) the vascular injury was apparent because of large and/or expanding haematoma or overt haemorrhage. There was a large incidence of associated injury with head injury in 46% and brachial plexus injury in 31%. The mortality was high (46%), with most patients dying from the associated head injury, but one patient died from stroke after presenting with a neurological deficit associated with a carotid injury.
Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, NSW.
J P
JP
Fletcher
J M
JM
Little
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries*; D001315:Australia; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000293:injuries; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000293:injuries; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000293:injuries; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology*