title: Endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic injuries: a critical appraisal.
abstract: Blunt trauma to the thoracic aorta is life-threatening, with instant fatality in at least 75% of victims. If left untreated, nearly half of those who survive the initial injury will die within the first 24 hours. Surgical repair has been the standard treatment of blunt aortic injury, but immediate operative intervention is frequently difficult due to concomitant injuries. Although endovascular treatment of traumatic aortic disruption is less invasive than conventional repair via thoracotomy, this strategy remains controversial in young patients due to anatomical considerations and device limitations. This article reviews the likely advantages of endovascular interventions for blunt thoracic aortic injuries. Potential limitations and clinical outcomes of this minimally invasive technique are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston VAMC 112, 2002 Holcomb Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA. plin@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tam T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kougias
authors.forename: Mathew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Coselli
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mattox
mesh_terms: D017546:Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome