Intraoperative Epiaortic Ultrasound for Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Ascending Aorta

Epiaortic ultrasound is an imaging modality that is commonly used to evaluate the ascending aorta for atheroma and other mural lesions during elective cardiac surgery. Its use in contained aortic rupture has not been established. We present a case of thoracic trauma with contained pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta. At operation, the precise location of the aortic tear could not be identified by visual inspection, manual palpation, or transesophageal echocardiography. Epiaortic ultrasound was employed and the aortic defect was identified and successfully repaired. This intraoperative imaging modality may play an increasing role in the identification of aortic pathology when visual inspection and other intraoperative imaging is insufficient.