Annals of vascular surgery
-
This review of 11 cases of seat-belt associated blunt abdominal aortic trauma, includes nine cases reported in the literature and two new cases. Lap-type seat belts were the cause of this injury in eight of the 11 patients (73%). Clinical presentation was acute in 73% of the cases, with symptoms of acute arterial insufficiency, or an acute abdomen or neurologic deficits. ⋯ Diagnosis involves a high degree of suspicion in a victim wearing a seat belt with neurologic deficits, signs of acute arterial insufficiency, or a pulsatile abdominal mass. The mortality rate was 18% (2/11 patients), and occurred in patients wearing lap belts. Overall outcome depends on prompt recognition followed by appropriate surgical intervention.