[Traumatic rupture of the aorta. A report of a case operated on with success]

The purpose of this paper is to present the case of a patient with traumatic rupture of the aorta, that was diagnosed and treated successfully. We describe the clinical data and diagnostic procedures of this case and we analyze the diagnostic and treatment aspects in accordance to the review of the literature. If, as in this case, the lesion does not extend through the adventitia and the entity is suspected based on the mechanism of the traumatism, a successful surgical treatment is feasible. This can be done by only clamping the aorta and doing the repair without an atrium to aorta by-pass, as was done in this case with no complications, or with the use of such a by-pass with a centrifugal pump with which it might be possible to prevent, in some cases, the paraplegia that can be associated with the clamping of the aorta. We conclude that a high degree of suspicion and a precise surgical technique are mandatory for a successful treatment of a traumatic rupture of the aorta.