[Vascular injury problems in childhood and adolescence].

Because of the marked elasticity of healthy blood vessels in children and adolescents, vascular trauma is very rare. In penetrating injuries, arteriography is not usually necessary but this procedure is essential in cases of blunt trauma to the blood vessels. The type of reconstructive procedure depends on the injury and its extent and can be performed by direct vascular anastomosis, by the insertion of a vein patch or by the transplantation of an autogenic venous segment. General anaesthesia is usually essential. Interrupted one-layer end-to-end anastomosis is advocated. The surgical technique of vascular repair must be meticulous. 12 children and adolescents (most of them had severe multiple injuries including vascular injuries) were followed up clinically and via arteriography. In 11 patients, the reconstructed vessels were found to be functioning normally.