Fatal Aortic Rupture from Nonpenetrating Chest Trauma

Abstract

A 22-year-old man died following a side impact blow in an automobile accident. Necropsy showed a large tear in the posterior wall of the aorta approximately 12 mm distal to the insertion of ligamentum arteriosum (Figures 1 and 2). Subadventitial hemorrhage was prominent in the descending thoracic aorta. The left pleural space contained large quantities of blood.