Thoracic Endovascular Repair Versus Open Surgery for Blunt Injury

This study aims to increase understanding of the short-term and long-term outcome of blunt aortic injury (BAI) and to discern if there is an advantage resulting from the type of operative treatment used to manage it, either the classic open surgical repair or a newer technique known as thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR). Specifically, this study will answer the following questions regarding patients suffering BAI: 1. What clinical variables affect short-term mortality and neurologic outcome? 2. What are the long-term treatment-associated complications of open repair and TEVAR? 3. In patients with a similar injury and physiologic profile, is there a survival advantage resulting from the type of operative treatment?