Aortic lacerations: fatal complications of thoracic aortography.
Traumatic aortic lacerations are life-threatening injuries that require a prompt diagnosis and surgery if patients are to survive. Most authors recommend transfemoral catheterization when performing thoracic aortography in patients with suspected aortic lacerations. The authors of this study describe two patients in whom transfemoral catheterization and contrast material injection were directly related to their deaths. These cases illustrate the need for cautious catheter manipulation in patients with aortic lacerations.
LaBerge
J M
JM
Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96859-5000.
Jeffrey
R B
RB
D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries*; D001027:Aortography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male