Aortic Transection after Blunt Abdominal Trauma in a Child

Infrarenal aortic dissection in a child after blunt trauma

We present a 4-year-old who suffered blunt abdominal trauma leading to Chance fractures to the lumbar spine, bucket-handle injuries to the ileum and descending colon, and an aortic intimal injury leading to occlusion of the infrarenal aorta with extension to the bifurcation. Her vascular injuries were managed by endarterectomy of the intimal injury, thrombectomy of the distal aorta and bilateral iliac arteries using a Fogarty catheter, and patch angioplasty of the infrarenal aorta using bovine pericardium secured by a combination of interrupted and running sutures to optimize elasticity and operative time.