Rupture of the descending thoracic aorta caused by blunt chest trauma: report of a case.

A 66-year-old man fell from a tree and was diagnosed to have multiple fractured ribs and hemopneumothorax based upon the chest roentgenogram findings. He underwent chest tube drainage and evacuation using video-assisted thoracic surgery. One week after the operation, he exhibited recurrent hemothorax. He underwent a thoracotomy, and the hemothorax was found to be due to a penetration of the lower descending thoracic aorta by a fractured rib. We performed a direct closure of the penetrated portion of the descending thoracic aorta. The patient has remained well for 1 year following the second operation.