Posttraumatic coarctation of the aorta: Diagnostic clues

Abstract A patient with posttraumatic rupture of the aorta presented without the typical findings of mediastinal widening on chest roentgenogram, shock or hemothorax. The findings of acquired coarctation, that is, reduced volume of the femoral pulses and blood pressure difference between the arms and legs, led to early performance of retrograde aortography and successful corrective surgery. The need for attention to these subtle clues of aortic rupture is stressed.