M. Bourgeois et al., POSTTRAUMATIC DISSECTION OF THE AORTIC IS THMUS WITH A FAVORABLE OUTCOME WITHOUT SURGERY - VALUE OF TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Annales francaises d'anesthesie et de reanimation, 14(2), 1995, pp. 218-221
We report a case of intimal rupture of aortic isthmus in a severe poly
trauma patient diagnosed with transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE).
TEE findings were as follows: localized intimal tear without increase
d aortic diameter or pseudoaneurysm, absence of mediastinal haematoma
or false lumen. CT scan and MRI confir med the diagnosis. Because of t
he associated injuries, surgery was delayed. Conservative management w
as successful and the patient was discharged without aortic surgery. A
follow up TEE, 3 and 6 months later showed a thrombosis of the intima
l tear without false aneurysm. This case underlines the value of TEE i
n patients with thoracic trauma, for surgical or nonsurgical managemen
t of aortic rupture and for the follow up of the patients.