Thoracic aortic rupture: advantages of intraarterial digital subtraction angiography.
Sixty-one consecutive patients with blunt thoracic trauma underwent intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) of the thoracic aorta because of obscuration of the aortic knob or mediastinal widening on chest radiographs. Ten of these patients had aortic ruptures diagnosed by IA-DSA. Digital subtraction aortography proved 100% accurate as indicated by results of surgery, conventional arteriography, serial chest radiography, and clinical follow-up. The method was 50% faster compared with conventional aortography and saved significantly on film costs. The potential for use of smaller caliber catheters and a decrease in contrast requirements also make this method safer than conventional arteriography. We recommend IA-DSA as the procedure of choice when emergency aortography is warranted.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013997:Time Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery