TRAUMATIC AORTIC-VALVE INJURY SUSTAINED DESPITE THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AUTOMOBILE AIR BAG

Blunt chest trauma is a rare cause of aortic valve dysfunction. A case of the successful management of traumatic injury to the aortic valve is reported. The aortic valve injury was sustained in an automobile ac cident despite the use of a seat belt and the deployment of an air bag . The literature is briefly reviewed. Aortic valve injury remains a co nsideration in cases of automobile-associated chest trauma, even in au tomobiles equipped with seat belts and air bags.