The massive blood loss that accompanies penetrating chest wounds involving the heart or intrathoracic vessels generally leaves no option but to act immediately. Blunt chest trauma in combination with other injuries makes particularly stringent demands on diagnostic and therapeutic skills. Most injuries to the intrathoracic aorta are in the form of intiially closed tears of the descending part; but rupture is an ever-present threat. The symptoms are: enlargement of the mediastinum in the chest roentgenogram, differences in blood pressure between the upper and lower half of the body and haemothorax. Whenever possible aortography should be performed to locate the site of the rupture. The therapeutic measures are determined by the extent and severity of the various injuries.