Mid-term results of conservative, conventional and endovascular treatment for acute traumatic aortic lesions

Abstract

Background: To analyze our results after conservative, conventional and endovascular treatment for acute traumatic aortic lesions during the last decade.

Methods: From June 1993 to September 2004, a total of 19 patients with traumatic aortic lesions were referred to our department. All patients sustained injuries from blunt deceleration trauma. In hemodynamically stable patients, initial evaluation was by multi-slice CT scan. The diagnosis of traumatic aortic injury was confirmed and an individual treatment strategy was determined. In hemodynamically unstable patients, emergency thoracotomy was performed.

Results: An emergency thoracotomy was performed in seven (37%) patients. Mortality in this group was 100%. In the remaining group of 12 (63%) patients without hemodynamic instability at time of admission, in-hospital mortality was 0%. Treatment was surgical in five patients (26%), endovascular in five (26%) and conservative in two patients (11%). Mean follow-up was 63 months (5-108 months). No patient died during follow-up. In patients treated by endovascular stent-graft placement no signs of endoleaks could be detected.

Conclusions: Hemodynamic stability and an individual treatment strategy are prerequisites for survival of acute traumatic aortic lesions. Endovascular stent-graft placement has emerged as an innovative and minimally invasive therapeutic option in this polytraumatic high-risk patient cohort.