Blunt trauma of the thoracic aortic isthmus.

Blunt trauma of the thoracic aorta is the second leading cause of death in traffic accidents, after head injuries. A polytraumatized patient, aged 40, was admitted, with trauma of the thoracic aortic isthmus, after a traffic accident. Adequate resuscitation and intensive therapy, angiographic and MSCT diagnostics enabled the urgent surgical treatment. On the sixty-seventh day of surgery, the patient was successfully transferred to a regional health center in good general condition. Blunt aortic injury occurs in 1% of casualties in traffic and causes 16% mortality. More than 80% of patients die before arrival to hospital. In conclusion, we point out with satisfaction the successful surgical treatment and survival of injured patients admitted to our hospital.