[Traumatic rupture of the descending thoracic aorta. Is emergency surgery necessary?]

The diagnosis of traumatic rupture of the descending thoracic aorta used to be an indication for urgent surgery. Recently, there has been a shift in the perspective regarding the need for an urgent procedure and increasing numbers of surgeons tend to suggest that it is safer to manage first other serious injuries and to perform reconstruction of the injured thoracic aorta in the second stage only. Provided conservative therapy is properly managed, the risk for bleeding from the injured aorta is minimal. In the present case report of a patient with descending thoracic aortae rupture, the authors demonstrate and discuss the strategy of optimal timing of surgery.