Abstract
During a 15-month period, six patients with acute traumatic rupture of the arch of the aorta were treated. This experience demonstrated that delay in recognition and repair is disastrous and that the only long-term survivors had early surgical repair. The lesion is far more common, particularly associated with automobile accidents, than is usually recognized. Frequently, no evidence of chest injury is present, but deceleration stresses appear to be common to all cases. When both mediastinal widening on chest roentgenograms and a history of decelerating accident are present, aortography is indicated. When complete rupture of the aorta is demonstrated, emergency surgical repair should follow.