The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care · 1979 · 56 citations · 0 references
MedicineSurgeryCardiothoracic SurgeryTrauma CareVascular SurgeryAneurysm RepairAortic SurgeryThoracic SurgeryThoracic TraumaTrauma SurgeryVascular TraumaBlunt Chest TraumaBlunt Thoracic TraumaThoracic Aortic Aneurysm RepairThoracic Aortic Aneurysm SurgeryThoracic Aortic InjuryThoracic Trauma SurgeryThoracic Vascular Injury
The records of 50 patients having thoracic aortic aneurysms and a remote history of severe chest trauma were reviewed. Time intervals between thoracic trauma and operation varied from 3 months to 32 years (average, 11.9 years). In 25 patients (50%) this interval was greater than 10 years and in six (12%) greater than 20 years. Surgical correction was accomplished with low mortality and morbidity. Detection and diagnosis of chronic traumatic thoracic aortic injuries may not become clinically evident in some cases for many years. This diagnosis should be considered in all patients with a history of severe thoracic trauma, no matter how remote.