Case report Blunt trauma with ¯ail chest and penetrating aortic injury

Blunt chest trauma with ¯ail chest is common. The mortality attributes initially to the associated pulmonary contusion, massive hemothorax and later to the occurrence of adult respiratory distress syndrome. We report a case of ¯ail chest with segmental fractures near the costovertebral junction and delayed hemothorax attacked 14 h later. The ®nal diagnosis of the penetrating aortic injury by detached rib fragment was appreciated by aortogram. Unfortunately, active aortic hemorrhage made prompt thoracotomy in vain for life salvage