Abdominal vascular injuries.

Treatment of major abdominal vascular injuries is a challenge. Since 1973, 93 patients have been treated at our institution for 147 abdominal vascular injuries. The majority of these injuries (67%) resulted from penetrating trauma in young men between 21 and 30 years of age. Upon admission 72% of the patients were in shock. Injured most frequently were the iliac vessels (36%) and the inferior vena cava (20%). Suture repair with preservation of function was possible in 61%; ligation of the damaged vessel was necessary in 24 cases (26%). Overall mortality was 29%. Military anti-shock (MAS) trousers were used in the management of ten patients who had an average admission systolic blood pressure of 52 mm Hg; 50% survived. In six cases of refractory hypotension or cardiac arrest, thoracotomy was done in the emergency room; mortality in this group was 100%. For some abdominal vascular injuries, ER thoracotomy has a very limited application. The key factors for increasing the survival rate in patients with major abdominal vascular injuries include rapid stabilization, reversal of hypotension (especially by the use of MAS trousers), and prevention of coagulopathy, combined with prompt surgical exploration and thoracotomy when indicated.