title: Blunt trauma with flail chest and penetrating aortic injury.
abstract: Blunt chest trauma with flail chest is common. The mortality attributes initially to the associated pulmonary contusion, massive hemothorax and later to the occurrence of adult respiratory distress syndrome. We report a case of flail chest with segmental fractures near the costovertebral junction and delayed hemothorax attacked 14 h later. The final diagnosis of the penetrating aortic injury by detached rib fragment was appreciated by aortogram. Unfortunately, active aortic hemorrhage made prompt thoracotomy in vain for life salvage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012272:Ribs / Q000293:injuries*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*