Incidental aortic coarctation in traumatic subclavian artery injury

Abstract

Subclavian artery injuries are complex and challenging due to anatomy and exposure during surgery. The surgical management depends on the mechanism of injury, the patient's haemodynamic stability and other injuries sustained. If control of bleeding is lost during surgery, it results in immediate exsanguination, with high mortality and morbidity rates. New techniques with endovascular surgery have changed the approach and outcome of these injuries. In this case report, an incidental finding of coarctation of the aorta in a 32-year-old man after sustaining a gunshot to the chest, with a subsequent subclavian artery injury is reported.