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To determine risk factors for death in patients with traumatic aortic rupture, researchers reviewed trauma center and autopsy records for 85 patients with this diagnosis between 1990 and 2003 in Zurich. By Swiss law, all traumatic fatalities are subject to autopsy.
Mean age was 47 years, and median Injury Severity Score was 32. Motor vehicle crash was the most common mechanism of injury (50%), followed by fall, pedestrian struck by vehicle, and crashes involving motorcycle, airplane, bicycle, and snowboard. Prehospital, in-hospital and overall mortality rates were 40%, 31%, and 59%, respectively. Equal proportions of patients had complete and partial aortic transections. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with complete transectio…