Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta

Autopsies of victims of fatal traffic accidents reveal the presence of a traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta (TRTA) in approx. 15%. Some 20% of patients with this trauma reach the hospital alive. Without surgery, 95% of them die within three weeks. When, on the other hand, the diagnosis is made promptly and the patients are operated on immediately, approx. 75% of them survive. A report is presented of the findings in 6 such cases. In one of them, in whom the A. anonyma had been avulsed from the aortic arch, it could be reimplanted with success; a very rare case. The aetiology, the natural evolution and the diagnosis of TRTA are discussed. Special attention is given to the 12 signs that can frequently be seen in the chest X-ray in cases of TRTA.