title: [A serious complication of sternal puncture: penetrating injury of the ascending thoracic aorta].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Penetrating thoracic aorta wounds are rare but responsible for a high mortality when medical and surgical management is delayed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 71 year-old patient with malignant lymphoma who sustained an accidental penetrating injury of the ascending thoracic aorta while undergoing trephine biopsy of the sternum. He was successfully treated with emergency sternotomy and aortic suture-repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report highlights the limits of sternal trephine biopsy, notably in patients whose bones are weakened by a malignant haematological process, and proposes preventive measures in order to avoid accidents.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie thoracique et générale, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarry
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lang-Lazdunski
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barthelemy
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Berets
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jancovici
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma; D008297:Male; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods