[Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: long-term results]

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta (TRTA) is a life-threatening condition usually caused by deceleration mechanism following vehicle accidents.

To report our experience with the conventional surgical treatment of TRTA and its long-term results.

We reviewed five patients assisted in our Service between 1990 to 2006. Four of them underwent the conventional surgical treatment and the remaining patient was submitted to an endovascular approach, by other surgeon due to high-risk comorbidities. We evaluated the perioperative morbity and mortality, as well as the long-term results.

All the four cases were male, aged between 21 and 54 years old. Three patients were victims of vehicle accidents and one patient reported a fall from a stair. Two patients were operated on in the acute fase of TRTA (5 and 17 days) and another two patients had delayed treatment (4 months and 10 years later). No death or permanent neurologic deficits were noticed. One patient had temporary parestesias of lower limbs with complete recover in three weeks. The follow-up duration was one to 16 years; no deaths, reinterventions or other complications were observed.

Although the small number of patients of the present series, we would like to stress the quality of long-term results of the surgical management of TRTA, undertaken in young patients, with a long-life expectancy.