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Emerg Med J 2009;26:387 doi:10.1136/emj.2008.067165
  • Emergency casebooks

Ascending aortic injury: computed tomography is not enough

  1. D Chalkley1,
  2. N Qureshi2,
  3. N Tai2
  1. 1
    Emergency Department, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
  2. 2
    Department of Trauma Surgery, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
  1. Dr D Chalkley, Emergency Department, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK danechalkley{at}hotmail.com
  • Accepted 1 October 2008

Abstract

A case of an ascending aortic injury caused by a fall from height is presented. The patient had a suspicion of this injury identified on chest x ray and computed tomography (CT) scan. Subsequent aortography was necessary to clarify further the type and location of injury. This case highlights the potential difference in management between ascending aortic injuries and more common descending aortic injuries (in which diagnosis and choice of treatment can be based on CT alone). After CT has identified a possible ascending aortic injury, aortography is needed because CT images of this region are less diagnostic and clear.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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