title: Simultaneous surgical treatment of chronic post-traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, diaphragmatic hernia and giant emphysema bulla.
abstract: Thoraco-abdominal blunt trauma can lead to multiple injuries of several organs. We report a case of a patient in whom, 10 years after a trauma, a chest X-ray showed visceral herniation into the left thorax. Angio computed tomographic scan (CTS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed these lesions and also showed a saccular thoracic aortic aneurysm. During the surgical procedure a giant post-traumatic emphysema bulla of the left lower pulmonary lobe was discovered and repaired. In the presence of diaphragmatic injuries, CTS and MRI are mandatory for excluding other organ involvement, and during the surgical procedure, careful inspection of left thorax and abdomen should always be done to repair other possible injuries not seen before.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Policlinico A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of The Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lapenna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bonis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pirronti
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed