Purposeful delay in the repair of a traumatic rupture of the aorta with coexistent liver injury

Purposeful delay in the repair of traumatic aortic injury by appropriate medical management is indicated when the risk of immediate thoracotomy is high. A grade V liver injury implies parenchymal disruption of greater than 75% of a hepatic lobe. We report the successful management of a patient with a class IB proximal descending aortic transection and concomitant grade V liver injury that precluded aortic repair until its resolution.