Immediate Endovascular Repair for Descending Thoracic Aortic Transection Secondary to Blunt Trauma

Abstract

Purpose: To report the immediate endovascular treatment of a thoracic aortic tear secondary to blunt trauma. Methods and Results: A 39-year-old man was injured in a motor vehicle collision. In addition to significant trauma to the head, chest, and abdomen, there were signs of a deceleration injury to the thoracic aorta. After urgent celiotomy to repair a lacerated spleen, the thoracic aortic transection was treated intraluminally using an endograft made of Gianturco Z-stents covered with polytetrafluoroethylene. The patient recovered from his injuries, and the thoracic endograft shows no evidence of endoleak 7 months after treatment. Conclusions: Endoluminal techniques can be used successfully in the immediate repair of thoracic aortic injuries.