The role of transesophageal echocardiography in endovascular repair of traumatic aortic transection.

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is a leading cause of death, following major blunt trauma, and endovascular repair has evolved as a viable alternative to open repair. This report highlights the role of transesophageal echocardiography as a valuable imaging tool for locating the exact position of the lesion, guiding placement of the endograft, detecting leaks around it and supplementing information derived from angiography during endograft deployment.