[A case report of the rupture of the descending thoracic aorta due to blunt chest trauma].

A 31-year-old man was injured in an automobile accident. He was suspected to have a rupture of the thoracic aorta because the widening of mediastinum was demonstrated on a chest X-ray film. Aortography (IV-DSA) was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Prosthetic graft interposition for the rupture of the aortic isthmus was accomplished with the aid of left heart bypass using the Biomedicus Centrifugal Pump with limited systemic heparinization (0.8 mg/kg). This adjunct appears to be useful to avoid the paraplegia and to reduce the blood loss.