Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta.

Eleven patients with aortic rupture secondary to non-penetrating thoracic trauma, recent in four patients and of longer standing in seven, have been operated upon. Every patient with an acute injury had a widened mediastinum in the chest skiagram. The diagnosis of traumatic rupture was made by aortography in each case. The operative procedure involved cardiopulmonary bypass, left heart bypass or aorta to aorta bypass shunt. There was one postoperative death. It is recommended that in the acute stage a rupture of the aorta secondary to trauma should be repaired as soon as possible, while ruptures of long standing should be electively repaired.