INJURIES OF BRANCHES OF THE AORTIC ARCH

Abstract
Injuries to the carotid, subclavian, axillary and vertebral arteries have comprised 19.5% of vascular trauma seen at Westmead Hospital during the period 1979-86. The cause of injury was penetrating trauma in 38.5% of cases, and blunt trauma, due mainly to motor vehicle or motor bike accident, in 61.5% of cases. In most cases (77%) the vascular injury was apparent because of large and/or expanding haematoma or overt haemorrhage. There was a large incidence of associated injury with head injury in 46% and brachial plexus injury in 31%. The mortality was high (46%), with most patients dying from the associated head injury, but one patient died from stroke after presenting with a neurological deficit associated with a carotid injury.

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