Traumatic aortic rupture and surgical repair

Abstract

Trauma is the leading cause of death under the age of 35 years worldwide. Traumatic aortic rupture accounts for 18% of all road traffic accident mortality. Eighty percent of these patients die at the scene of the accident. Of the survivors, 50% die within 24 hours, if left untreated. Rarely, an aortic pseudoaneurysm related to blunt chest trauma may develop. Rapid transport and resuscitation, awareness of the injury, availability of multi-slice computed tomography and timely intervention can significantly reduce mortality in aortic injury. We present a 33-year-old male patient with an aortic pseudoaneurysm which developed after an automobile accident and treated surgically using cardiopulmonary bypass technique.