AORTOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TRAUMATIC AORTIC RUPTURE DUE TO BLUNT CHEST TRAUMA - REPORT OF 36 CASES

Thirty-six patients were evaluated by aortography after blunt chest trauma with a suspicion of traumatic aortic rupture (TAR). There were 16 isolated TARs at isthmus, 2 multiple injuries both of the thoracic aorta and brachiocephalic arteries and no false negative aortographies. Seventeen aortographic examinations were negative, as confirmed by clinical and radiological follow up one false positive aortography was due to a ductus diverticulum. Aortography had a sensitivity of 100 %, specificity of 94.4 %, and accuracy of 97.2 %. No complications or deaths resulted from angiography. Aortography is a safe, accurate and rapid technique to evaluate patients with suspicion of TAR; aortography is superior to other non-invasive techniques in depicting vascular anatomy and pathology, knowledge of which is essential for surgical planning.