ILIAC AND FEMORAL-ARTERY OCCLUSION BY THROMBOEMBOLI FROM AN ABDOMINALAORTIC-ANEURYSM IN THE SETTING OF BLUNT ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA

The abdominal aorta is injured infrequently in blunt trauma to the abd omen. When injury does occur, aortic rupture, dissection, and traumati c aneurysm most commonly result. An aneurysmal abdominal aorta would a ppear to be at increased risk for injury hom blunt abdominal trauma. T his case report appears to be the first description of iliac and femor al artery occlusion by thromboemboli dislodged from an atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm at the time of a motor vehicle accident. We believe that this peripheral embolization was caused by direct compre ssion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm by a seatbelt.