Korean J Leg Med.  2012 Nov;36(2):182-185. 10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.2.182.

Traumatic Injury of the Innominate Artery: A Case Report

• Park S
• Cho WY
• Kim DY
• Cho SJ

• KMID: 2305479
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.2.182

Abstract

Although the innominate artery is protected by a bony structure, traumatic injury of this vessel has been reported. These injuries usually occur after blunt chest trauma or sudden deceleration, and are often coupled with other associated injuries. However, we experienced an unusual occurrence where a deceased patient with no history of blunt trauma and no apparent injury on the chest, head, or neck showed an isolated injury of the innominate artery with extensive hemorrhage at the postmortem examination. In the present report, we describe the present case, indicating the characteristics of the innominate artery injury, and review the associated literature.

Keyword

injury; innominate artery; autopsy

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Brachiocephalic Trunk
Deceleration
Glycosaminoglycans
Head
Hemorrhage
Humans
Neck
Thorax
Glycosaminoglycans

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta and abdominal aorta with left common carotid artery, the innominate artery (the right brachiocephalic artery) and right common carotid artery are opened with the heart.

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  Fig. 2 Avulsion injury with extensive hemorrhage at surrounding tissue is also identified near the innominate artery.

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