Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 5 , Pages 270-273, May 2008

Delayed Surgery in a Complex Trauma Patient with Aortic Rupture, Blunt Head Trauma and Liver Laceration: a Case Report

  • Hsing-Lin Lin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Trauma, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wei-Che Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Trauma, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chao-Wen Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Trauma, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Liang-Chi Kuo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Trauma, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hon-Man Chan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Trauma, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr Hon-Man Chan, Department of Trauma, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan

Received 28 June 2007; accepted 27 August 2007.

Aortic rupture is a critical condition in trauma patients. Most patients are killed at the scene of the accident. A patient who survives long enough to reach hospital also has a high risk of rupture during management. We report a patient who was transferred from a municipal hospital with the emergency complex of blunt head trauma and chest and abdominal contusion. Chest computed tomography scan revealed aortic rupture. Liver laceration with hemodynamic stability and brain concussion were also diagnosed in the emergency room. She was admitted to the trauma intensive care unit without emergency surgery. She received aorta repair after 5 days of observation. After the operation, the patient recovered very well. Delayed surgery for aortic rupture as a treatment choice may be of benefit in selected complex trauma cases.

Key Words:  aortic rupture , head injury , internal bleeding , trauma

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PII: S1607-551X(08)70152-9

doi:10.1016/S1607-551X(08)70152-9

Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 5 , Pages 270-273, May 2008

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