Acute aortic syndrome: traumatic aortic injury
Blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury (BAI) is a life-threatening emergency, the second most common cause of death in trauma patients, outnumbered only by intracranial haemorrhage. BAI is most frequently related to sudden deceleration in motor vehicle accidents, and the injury most commonly occurs at points of fixation in the descending aorta. In clinical series, it is predominantly in the region of the aortic isthmus. As victims of high-impact collisions often have multiple injuries, they are initially managed according to the Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) concept. With improved pre- and in-hospital resuscitation, expeditious computed tomography angiography on arrival to the hospital, and increased awareness of the condition, patients who survive the initial impact are more likely to undergo successful treatment. All traumatic aortic injuries are not equally severe, as the extent of damage to the aortic wall may vary from an intimal tear to complete transection and rupture. Serial imaging and expectant management is advocated in patients with only an intimal tear but no external contour abnormality, whereas repair is recommended in most other cases. In recent years, thoracic endovascular aortic repair has emerged as the preferable treatment of patients with BAI, regardless of age. The initial outcome is highly dependent on the severity of other injuries, and most deaths are unrelated to the aortic injury per se, once the stent graft is in place. Long-term survival in patients discharged from the primary hospital admission is excellent. Early reintervention is fairly common, whereas late reinterventions are very uncommon.