Successful treatment of transection of aortic arch and innominate artery.

A patient was seen with a widened mediastinum following rapid deceleration injury. A retograde angiogram showed rupture of the transverse aortic arch and occlusion of the origin of the innominate artery. At operation cardiopulmonary bypass with systemic, cerebral, and myocardial preservation were used to provide a safe approach for inserting a graft to successfully restore normal circulation.