[Traumatic rupture of the aortic isthmus. Apropos of 31 surgically treated cases from 1976 to 1988]. / Ruptures traumatiques de l'isthme aortique. A propos de trente et un cas opérés de 1976 à 1988.

The authors start by presenting a series of 31 traumatic ruptures of the thoracic aorta operated at the stage of fresh rupture between January 1976 and January 1988. These lesions were caused by sudden anteroposterior (29 cases), vertical (1 case) or lateral (1 case) deceleration. The diagnosis was most frequently suggested (by enlargement of the mediastinum in 84% of cases) and was confirmed by aortography which was readily indicated. The aortic lesion was circumferential, respecting the adventitia (122 cases) or partial (8 cases). Surgical treatment consisted of restoring the aortic continuity under partial cardiopulmonary by-pass by direct suture (7 cases) or by means of a prosthesis (23 cases). The hospital mortality was 10%; the 28 survivors were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 5 years. One patient died on the 45th day after the operation due to complications of an oesophagotracheal fistula. The functional result evaluated in the 27 survivors was excellent or good in 87% of cases and poor in 13% of cases. In the light of the literature, the authors then define the principal clinical and radiological signs, discuss the various ways of medullary protection during aortic clamping, discuss the chronology of the operations to be performed (gastro-intestinal, vascular, neurosurgical and orthopaedic).