Rationale: Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is a high-mortality condition often managed by endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) due to its minimally invasive nature and favorable outcomes. Patient concerns: Six patients with BTAI were admitted to our institution from 2014 to 2023. They presented with symptoms such as chest pain or were diagnosed with aortic injury on chest computerized tomography after motor vehicle collisions. Diagnosis: All patients underwent computed tomography arteriography to confirm the diagnosis and assess the aortic injury. Interventions: All patients received EVAR. Among these cases, 5 were classified as grade II and 1 was classified as grade IV. The patient with grade IV injury and intraoperative shock died of respiratory failure postoperatively. The remaining 5 patients had favorable outcomes. Outcomes: The mean follow-up was 3 years. No recurrent chest pain, spinal cord ischemia, or other aorta-related complications were observed. One patient experienced a pulmonary embolism and another had a cerebral infarction, both managed conservatively. Lessons: EVAR is effective for BTAI, especially in reducing early mortality and complications. Careful evaluation of comorbidities and associated injuries is crucial, particularly in older patients.
Yan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.