title: Acute traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta treated with endoluminal stent grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular technologies provide a new therapeutic option in the treatment for acute traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta. We report our experience with endoluminal stent graft repair of thoracic aortic ruptures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients underwent repair of the thoracic aorta with an endoluminal stent graft for acute traumatic rupture. Data from patient history, the procedure, hospital course, and follow-up were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patient were involved in motor vehicle crashes. The mean Injury Severity Score was 51.8 +/- 6.38. All procedures were technically successful. Mean operating room time was 111 minutes and mean estimated blood loss was 200 mL. There were no cases of postprocedural endoleaks or conversions. There were no procedural complications, paraplegia, or deaths. Average follow-up was 20.2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five cases of successful endograft repair of thoracic aortic rupture have been demonstrated. This should encourage future studies to determine whether endovascular repair of thoracic aortic ruptures is a safe and feasible alternative to conventional open repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery, Arizona Heart Institute and Arizona Heart Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, USA.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Venkatesh G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Ramaiah
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DiMugno
authors.forename: Shoaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafique
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Diethrich
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D015607:Stents