DUAL-INFLOW GREAT VESSEL ANEURYSM - DELAYED PRESENTATION AFTER PENETRATING TRAUMA

Aneurysms constitute uncommon sequelae of injuries to the thoracic out let. Most such aneurysms are secondary to blunt trauma and usually inv olve the great vessels at their take-off from the aortic arch. Penetra ting injuries are more often identified in the more distal vessels and only very rarely present as pseudoaneurysms. Reported here is a singl e case of a chronic posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm arising from both the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery. The work up and surgical approach provide practical lessons, complemented with illustrations that aid in the understanding of the case. It is an unus ual case because of the dual-inflow nature of the aneurysm. (C) 1997 b y The Society of Thoracic Surgeons