Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2014 Aug;47(4):406-408.

A Treatment Case of Delayed Aortic Injury: The Patient with Posterior Rib Fracture

• Park HS
• Ryu SM
• Cho SJ
• Park SM
• Lim SH

Abstract

A 66-year-old male patient arrived at the emergency room with a crush injury to his chest. Multiple rib fractures, hemothorax on both sides, left scapular fracture, liver laceration, and retroperitoneal hematoma were found upon the radiologic examination. After closed thoracostomy, the patient had been initially admitted to the intensive care unit, but he was transferred to the general ward on the next day. On the 4th post-trauma day, the patient complained of severe pain and there was bloody drainage through the chest tube. This case is an exploration with the consideration of the possibility of major bleeding and the subsequent repair of the descending thoracic aorta. This case is regarded as a case in which the aorta wall was damaged as the sharp margin of the fractured ribs caused continuous irritation.

Keyword

Rib fractures; Thoracic injuries; Aortic rupture

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aorta
Aorta, Thoracic
Aortic Rupture
Chest Tubes
Drainage
Emergency Service, Hospital
Hematoma
Hemorrhage
Hemothorax
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Lacerations
Liver
Male
Patients' Rooms
Rib Fractures*
Ribs
Thoracic Injuries
Thoracostomy
Thorax