Blunt traumatic aortic transection: the endovascular experience.
BACKGROUND
Thoracic aortic transection resulting from blunt trauma is usually fatal. It is almost always associated with multiple, complex, nonaortic injuries that could be adversely affected by standard surgical repair of the aorta. Endovascular stenting techniques offer these patients a less physiologically disruptive treatment option. We studied the feasibility and safety of endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of acute traumatic aortic transection.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2001, 9 patients were treated emergently for aortic transections with stent graft placement. The first patient had a custom-made prototype, and the other 8 patients had the Cook-Zenith thoracic stent graft implanted. All were polyester-covered Z-stent construction and deployed through a femoral 20- to 24-F delivery sheath.


RESULTS
Stent graft placement successfully sealed the aorta in all patients. One patient died as a result of a cerebrovascular accident. One patient required a brachial thrombectomy to relieve arm ischemia. The remaining eight patients were alive and without complications during the follow-up period (mean 21 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular repair for acute aortic transection is a safe, effective, and timely treatment option. It may be the treatment of choice in patients with extensive associated injuries.
Orford
Victoria P
VP
Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Radiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. victoria.orford@mh.org.au
Atkinson
Noel R
NR
Thomson
Ken
K
Milne
Peter Y
PY
Campbell
William A
WA
Roberts
Andrew
A
Goldblatt
John
J
Tatoulis
James
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D015607:Stents; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000628:therapy*