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A Rapid Diagnosis and Treatment of a Traumatic Aortic Transection: A Case of Survival to the ICU
Emergency Medicine
  • Larissa Dub, HCA Healthcare
  • Sherwin Thomas, HCA Healthcare
  • Nicholas Fusco, HCA Healthcare
  • Cherian Plamoottil, HCA Healthcare
  • Latha Ganti, HCA Healthcare
Division
North Florida
Hospital
Osceola Regional Medical Center
Document Type
Case Report
Publication Date
1-15-2021
Keywords
  • major trauma,
  • aortic injury,
  • emergency medicine and trauma,
  • general thoracic surgery,
  • ultrasound anatomy,
  • motor vehicle collison
Disciplines
Abstract

We present the case of a young man with traumatic aortic dissection secondary to a motor vehicle collision. While the differential diagnosis for traumatic injury after a motor vehicle collision can include commonly studied and trained for cases, such as pneumo/hemothorax, pulmonary contusion, splenic laceration, and pelvic fractures, for example, one of the more deadly and hence rare presentations of motor vehicle trauma is aortic transection. The fact that the diagnostic studies included as part of the initial Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) trauma survey are not well equipped to diagnose such an injury is also a deadly factor. In this case review, we explore factors affecting the timely diagnosis, management, and outcomes of traumatic aortic injury. Prompt diagnosis is imperative in order to save a patient's life.

Publisher or Conference
Cureus
Citation Information
Dub L, Thomas S Z, Fusco N, et al. A Rapid Diagnosis and Treatment of a Traumatic Aortic Transection: A Case of Survival to the ICU. Cureus. 2021 Jan 15;13(1):e12726. doi:10.7759/cureus.12726