Stent-graft replacement of chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta after blunt chest trauma.

Chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is an unusual occurrence. Open-chest surgery for repair of chronic traumatic aneurysms results in mortality rate of 5-18%, and a morbidity rate of 11-50% also. The evolution of endovascular technology offers the promise of a new, less invasive method to achieve aneurysm exclusion. A case of chronic traumatic aneurysm of the near isthmus thoracic aorta discovered on a chest X-ray and evaluated with chest computed tomographic scanning is presented. Stent-grafting procedure is described. Stent-grafting in chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta seems to be a viable minimal invasive therapeutic option for traumatic rupture of the aortic isthmus.