[Traumatic section of the thoracic aorta: its repair by direct aortic clamping]

Traumatic section of descendent aorta, severe complication of a thoracic traumatism, requires an early recognition and restoration because its high mortality rate. Between 1988 and 1990, three patients underwent surgical approach, by direct aortic clamping [correction of clamplaje], at our Service. In two cases, a heart stoppage appeared during the clamping/unclamping [correction of clampaje/desclampaje] maneuvers. One of them had previously electrocardiographic abnormalities, suggestive of heart contusion. Two patients died, one of them during surgical procedure because an irreversible heart stoppage, and the second patient died after 7 days because of a brain hemorrhage. One case presented postoperative paraplegia. Respective rates and literature about the main factors implicated in the diagnosis and treatment of such pathology are reviewed.