title: Perforation of the aorta by a rib edge: an unusual complication after chest wall resection.
abstract: Thoracic aortic perforation in the context of a minor trauma is extremely rare. In this article, we describe a case of an 80-year-old man who presented with an aortic perforation after a fall from his height during his hospitalization. The patient had previously undergone a left superior lobectomy, a partial chest wall resection, and reconstruction for a locally invasive lung cancer. He was directly transferred to the operating room, as he presented with hemodynamic instability. A 4-mm laceration in the descending thoracic aorta was identified and repaired. The postoperative course was uneventful. This case illustrates the importance of applying a solid fixation to the rib stumps when performing a chest wall resection, irrespective of the size of the wall defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Hôtel Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon. majdi.elhusseiny@gmail.com
authors.forename: Majdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Husseiny
authors.forename: Lamisse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: Fadia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tabet
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D012272:Ribs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D012421:Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*