EMERGENT ENDOLUMINAL REPAIR OF DELAYED ABDOMINAL AORTIC RUPTURE AFTERBLUNT TRAUMA

Purpose: To report the emergency repair of a traumatic abdominal aorti c rupture using endoluminal techniques. Methods and Results: A 25-year -old female sustained multiple head, chest, and abdominal injuries in a motorcycle accident. Six days after emergency treatment (including s plenectomy and repair of a superficial hepatic rupture and lacerations to the stomach, small bower, and colon), she became hemodynamically u nstable. A massive retroperitoneal hematoma had evolved from a distal aortic rupture. Owing to a hostile abdomen and possibility of bacteria l contamination, a self-expanding stent-graft was inserted transfemora lly to repair the aortic injury. The patient recovered uneventfully an d continues in good health with a patent endograft repair 2 years afte r treatment. Conclusions: This experience would support the efficacy o f endograft implantation for emergent repair of trauma aortic injuries ; however, proper facilities, an experienced interventional team, and an assortment of endografts and stents must be available.