Successful limb reperfusion by temporary arterial shunt during a 950-mile air transfer: case report.

Plastic vascular shunts successfully reperfused a trauma victim's severely ischemic leg for 16 hours during a 950-mile transfer to a regional trauma center. Although the limb ultimately was lost, this case suggests the potential value of temporary shunts in managing complex extremity vascular injuries in settings remote from the trauma center.