Blunt chest trauma with transection of the azygos vein: case report.

A review of the world literature revealed only five reported cases of azygos vein disruption from blunt chest trauma. Four of these were isolated injuries. We report a case of isolated complete azygos vein transection as a result of blunt motor vehicular trauma. Emergency thoracotomy and venous ligation resulted in successful resuscitation. Shearing forces as a result of deceleration were felt to be a possible etiology.