Traumatic innominate artery transection

Blunt innominate artery injury is a rare but often lethal complication of severe deceleration trauma. We report the case of a 38-year-old man with such an injury who was successfully operated on an emergency basis. In cases of brachiocephalic vessel trauma, a high index of suspicion in chest deceleration injuries may lead to a proper investigative process and an accurate diagnosis. Clinical signs as blood pressure gradient between the arms and widening of the mediastinum on chest X-ray is highly suggestive of trauma of the thoracic aorta and its great vessels. A chest CT scan may contribute to the diagnosis and can rule out major trauma of the aorta, but the procedure of choice for the definite diagnosis is usually the angiography. Subsequent early repair is favorable to avoid complications and fatal events. Cardiopulmonary bypass use in selected cases favors the outcome.