Traumatic rupture of a descending thoracic aortic homograft

My colleagues and I report an unusual case of traumatic aortic injury in an 18-year-old woman who had undergone multiple prior surgical procedures for repair of a type B interrupted aortic arch. Her most recent procedure included replacement of the proximal descending thoracic aorta with a 19-mm homograft at age 11 years. Seven years later, she was involved in a motor vehicle collision after a syncopal episode. Imaging studies revealed rupture of the body of the aortic homograft with formation of a pseudoaneurysm. The injury was successfully repaired with a Dacron graft by using hypothermic circulatory arrest. (c) 2005 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.