aortic injury
Ruptured Aorta
Submitted by GPH on Thu, 2011-02-17 12:31
Ruptured Aorta
This is probably one of the most common reasons CT chest is obtained on trauma patients in the US - NOT TO MISS A VASCULAR INJURY.
This patient, indeed, ended up having aortic injury (circled on the upper image above) after a high speed motor vehicle crash.
His chest XR on presentation revealed the infamous “wide mediastinum” (bottom image) for which trauma surgeon had no choice but to get a CT angio of the chest. And good thing he did.
The patient required thoracotomy and ruptured aorta repair after which he did Ok.
Widened Mediastinum due to Aortic Injury
Submitted by GPH on Wed, 2009-12-23 12:23
51 year old male was involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving under the influence. The patient was ejected from the car. His Chest XR in ER showed widened mediastinum. CT Chest confirmed the presence of the aortic tear.
He was taken to OR for the endovascular aortic stent placement. The patient survived and was discharged home.
Young female with aortic injury.
Submitted by GPH on Mon, 2009-10-05 12:58
34 year old female involved in a high speed collision. The patient presented to ER hypotensive and unresponsive. CT angio chest revealed aortic injury.
