OBJECTIVE: To review the population, etiology, associated injuries, types of treatment, and evolution of aortic injuries due to blunt chest trauma. METHODS: Retrospective study of medical charts of patients admitted to the Emergency Department at Hospital das Clínicas of Universidade de São Paulo, and treated by the Vascular Surgery Department from January 2001 to June 2004. Ten male patients were assessed: seven were treated by endovascular techniques and three by conventional operation. RESULTS: Concerning the location, there were eight injuries of the descending thoracic aorta proximal to the isthmus, one injury of the descending aorta at the thoracoabdominal transition, and one traumatic dissection of the aorta. Mean time for the surgical procedure was 10.62 ± 3.45 hours for patients submitted to endoluminal repair and 28 ± 32.39 hours for those submitted to conventional repair. The total hospitalization period varied from 9 to 180 days (mean of 23.33 ± 6.66 days for patients who received endoprosthesis and 42.55 ± 52.7 for those conventionally operated). Endoprostheses used were: one Excluder®, one Apolo®, and five Talent®. Of the operated patients, two used atrium femoral artery bypass. There were two deaths, one among the patients conventionally operated and one among those who received endoprosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic lesions in blunt chest trauma are rare and often associated to a great number of lesions. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key for the progress of patients. The endovascular repair in hemodynamically stable patients is an efficient alternative.
thoracic trauma; thoracic aorta; blood vessel prosthesis implantation
