The case of 48-years-old man politraumatized, victim of automobile accident is reported. The patient entered the emergency service of the Heart Institute in shock, with multiple fractures in the costal archs, total pneumothorax at the right and fracture of femur. Chest X-ray showed an important mediastinum enlargement. The patient was stabilized with fluids, monitor and submitted to angiography which revealed rupture of aorta at the level of brachycephalic trunk. Surgical treatment was undertaken, with the interposition of a Dacron tube between the ascending aorta and the brachycephalic trunk. Emphasis is given as to the way the case was approached. The approach is responsible for the good outcome reached. The procedure with the tamponage of the aortic lesion permitted suture of the rupture of the brachycephalic trunk in the aorta and the interposition of a Dacron patch between the ascending aorta and brachycephalic trunk, fully reestablishing the cerebral flux.
brachycephalic trunk; brachycephalic trunk; thorax, traumatisms