DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjs.2026.v12i03.016

Pages: 241-244

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is a catastrophic event with high pre-hospital mortality. For patients surviving the initial impact, timely diagnosis is often hindered by concomitant injuries. We report the case of a 17-year-old patient diagnosed 15 days post-trauma with a Grade III aortic isthmus rupture presenting as acute respiratory distress due to tracheobronchial compression. Due to the lack of immediate endovascular options and the severe mass effect, the patient underwent successful open surgical repair under femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass assistance.