title: Prehospital rounds. The quick stop.
abstract: The coroner's post-mortem examination revealed a tom aorta. This case illustrates that although a patient may appear stable, a major catastrophic event may nonetheless be taking place. How many times have we responded to MVAs similar to the one described here and seen those involved deny injuries? We carry a higher suspicion of aortic injury after someone has been ejected from a vehicle or involved in a high-speed crash. That's not always the case, however, and understanding how internal organs respond to high-speed impacts is crucial. Damage to the aorta may result after a sudden deceleration injury of any type: a fall, vehicle crash or violence. The most common forms of traumatic aortic injury occur where the aorta is "tethered" in place: at its intersection with the heart and at its distal portion just beneath the left subclavian artery near the ligamenta arteriosum. Approximately 80% of patients with aortic injury die at the scene. The injury may be hidden in the other 20%, but they have the potential to rapidly deteriorate and die. Those who survive typically are at a trauma center and are cared for by providers who have a suspicion of the injury. A high index of suspicion should be maintained on all rapid-deceleration injuries and with patients who experience chest pain, dyspnea, a difference in pressure between the upper and lower extremities, and paralysis. Paralysis can occur when aortic injury cuts off blood supply [table: see text] to the spinal cord. The spinal cord obtains its blood supply from arteries coming directly off the aorta, and a torn aorta can shear off these vessels, leaving the spinal cord to infarct and the patient to lose all distal function. When a victim sustains a sudden-deceleration injury to the chest, signs of aortic injury should be sought. It is imperative to maintain a high index of suspicion throughout patient care and be aware that although a patient may appear to be quite stable, the reality might be otherwise, and rapid transport to a trauma center will be necessary to save their life.
authors.affiliation: Brevard County Fire Rescue, Health First Training Center, Brevard County, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Orlando J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Dominguez
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000592:standards*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis