155 vascular injuries: a retrospective study in Kuwait, 1992-2000

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Trauma Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Vascular trauma poses significant challenges in patient management.
• Understanding injury patterns and outcomes is crucial for improving care.
• Kuwait has experienced an increase in civilian violence, potentially impacting trauma incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit the management and outcomes of vascular trauma in Kuwait between 1992 and 2000.
• To identify factors associated with morbidity and mortality in vascular trauma patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective open study design.
• Data collected from a vascular surgery unit at a teaching hospital in Kuwait.
• Involved 155 patients with vascular injuries, including extremities, neck, abdomen, and chest.

Main Results:

• Most injuries (n=118) involved the extremities.
• Lower limb graft failure rate was 3% (2/69), with 2 amputations.
• Overall mortality was 3% (4/155), with a high mortality rate (3/10) for abdominal vascular trauma.

Conclusions:

• Civilian violence has increased in Kuwait, contributing to vascular trauma.
• Abdominal vascular trauma is associated with a high mortality rate.
• Autogenous saphenous vein is an excellent conduit for revascularization in vascular trauma.