Delayed presentation of a penetrating suprarenal aortic injury: case report.

Death from exsanguination is the immediate outcome in more than 80% of penetrating wounds of the aorta. We report a case in which a gunshot wound to the upper abdomen produced a full-thickness laceration to the diaphragmatic aorta that was missed during the initial exploratory laparotomy. Only 3 days later did the patient develop symptoms of a vascular injury and require reoperation.