Traumatic rupture of the aorta: still a lethal injury.

A 10 year retrospective review of a community experience with blunt trauma of the aorta has been presented. We found that an overall mortality of 84 percent was associated with this injury. Fourteen patients reached the emergency department with stable vital signs. Of these patients, 10 underwent successful treatment (71 percent). Despite advances in many areas of trauma care, blunt trauma of the aorta remains a highly lethal injury. However, this review has demonstrated that with prompt diagnosis and treatment, a significant number of these patients can be salvaged. It is for this reason that we have adopted an aggressive approach toward victims of blunt trauma. We now proceed with diagnostic aortography in any patient who has undergone a significant deceleration injury.