Backgroud Thoracic aortic traumatic transection was an uncommon but often fatal injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with traumatic aortic transection.

Methods The medical records of patients at Shenyang General hospital treated from 2007 to 2013 were reviewed. Those patients who had aortic transection treated with an endograft were identified and evaluated for demographics, procedural details, mechanism of injury, and concomitant injuries, and outcomes.

Results We reported 12 patients suffered traumatic aortic transection. Average age was 35.5 ± 10.2 years (range, 21–55 years), and 8 of 12 patients (66.7%) were male. 10 patients (83.3%) had been involved in motor vehicle accidents, 2 patients (16.7%) had fallen down from heights. 11 patients underwent TEVAR for traumatic aortic injury. 0ne patient gave up treatment owing to economic reasons. In cases of TEVAR, the aortic injury was located in the proximity of the origin of the left subclavian artery (range, 5–40 mm). 6 patients underwent TEVAR for traumatic aortic transection with intentional the left subclavian artery (LAS) coverage during the study period. In 4 cases coverage was partial. All patients had concomitant injuries. In all patients, primary technical success was 100% that a single stent graft was sufficient to exclude the injured part of the aorta. The average cover length was 143.6 ± 16.6 mm (range, 100–160 mm). No patient in this series had postoperative serious complications in hospital. Follow-up ranged from 3 to78 months with an average of 30.8 ± 22.0 months. There have been no late explantation or device failures identified.

Conclusions Endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic transections can be performed safely with a relatively low mortality and morbidity and should be the procedure of choice for patients presenting with traumatic thoracic aortic transection.