The Evolution of Management Strategies for Blunt Aortic Injury

Blunt traumatic aortic injury is a leading cause of death after blunt trauma. Changes in the treatment of this potentially lethal condition include advances in diagnostic capabilities, with improved CT scanners and the development of improved surgical techniques. A wide spectrum of aortic injury can now be appreciated and such injury stratification identifies patients suitable for medical management alone, delayed surgical repair, or emergent surgical intervention. Finally, the development of endovascular technology has fundamentally changed the surgical repairs that can be successfully utilized in this challenging patient population.