Acute traumatic rupture of the aorta. A re-emphasis of repair without a vascular prosthesis

The incidence of acute aortic rupture has paralleled the increasing number of high-speed vehicles on our highways. Repair of acute aortic rupture without a vascular prosthesis has been mentioned frequently but seldom applied. Three consecutive patients with acute rupture repaired without a vascular prosthesis are discussed. The advantages of this technique are reviewed, and technical factors of the operation are described.