Life-Threatening Left Subclavian Arterial Rupture Following Blunt Thoracic Trauma: A Case Report
Introduction
Traumatic subclavian arterial rupture represents an uncommon complication of blunt chest trauma. Arterial rupture usually causes massive hemorrhages, and it must be quickly and properly confirmed by physical examination. Although it is uncommon, it is a challenging surgical problem and many surgeons have limited experience with its management [3, 4]. In recent years, complex subclavian injuries have been increasingly managed through endovascular intervention that is applied for patients who are hemodynamically stable at presentation [11]. However, for subclavian artery injury that appears early after trauma and arterial rupture that may cause life-threatening hemorrhages, surgery continues to be the only available treatment of choice in order to save the patient.
The author reports a clinical case of left subclavian arterial rupture after blunt chest trauma with profound hemorrhagic shock and almost clinical death. The patient received a successful operation with median sternotomy associated with left anterior thoracotomy in the style of “opening book” incisions.
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