title: Endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic tears.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with thoracic aorta injuries (TAI) present a unique challenge. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with TAI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of all patients admitted for TEVAR for trauma was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a 5-year period, 19 patients (6 women and 13 men; average age, 42 y) were admitted to our trauma center with TAI. Mechanism of injury was a motor vehicle crash in 12 patients, motorcycle crash in 2 patients, automobile-pedestrian accident in 2 patients, 1 fall, 1 crush injury, and 1 stab wound to the back. A thoracic endograft was used in 6 patients and proximal aortic cuffs were used in 13 patients (68%). One patient (5%) died. There were no strokes, myocardial infarctions, paraplegia, or renal failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TEVAR for TAI appears to be a safe option for patients with multiple injuries. TEVAR in young patients is still controversial because long-term endograft behavior is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Spectrum Health Medical Group, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-8816, USA. Ashraf.mansour@spectrum-health.org
authors.forename: M Ashraf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Cuff
authors.forename: Shonda L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Banegas
authors.forename: Gavin M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ambrosi
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Peter Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Heiser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058017:Vascular Grafting; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult