Traumatic Aortic Injury - Early Intervention

Author: Edward Verrier, MD
Institution: University of Washington
Date Reviewed: July 2014
Learning Domain: Adult Cardiac Surgery
Learning Objective: Traumatic Aortic Injury; Great Vessel Disease
PowerPoint File: Traumatic Aortic Injury - Early Intervention

Discussion Points for Conference

• Difference between intimal tear, intramural hematoma, aortic dissection, pseudoaneurysm
  • Impacts on decision making
• Simple vs complex aortic injury?
• Isolated aortic injury vs aortic injury with associated injuries
  • Priorities of decision making
  • Early vs Delayed therapy
• Open vs Closed surgical approaches

Learning Points

• Aortic injury must be thought of in any blunt thoracic trauma
• Certain life threatening associated injuries may take precedence
• There are various degrees of blunt aortic injury but natural history of each not clear
• Delayed therapy may be appropriate with close observation
• Endovascular approaches are currently the preferred therapeutic option