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Use of an atriocaval shunt in a trauma patient: first reported case in Hawai'i
Justin J Clark1, Susan Steinemann, Jeffrey M Lau
1The University of Hawai'i Surgical Residency Program, and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, USA. jjclark_md@yahoo.com
Background:
Traumatic injuries to the retrohepatic vena cava are typically fatal. Emergent access to this area is difficult and patients typically exsanguinate before the injury can be identified and fixed.
Objective:
To report the use of an atriocaval shunt in the repair of an injury to the retrohepatic vena cava from a gunshot wound.
Case Report:
A 24-year-old man was shot in his right chest suffering a penetrating injury to the liver and inferior vena cava. Surgical repair was performed with the aid of an atriocaval shunt fashioned from a chest tube. He survived and recovered without incident.
Conclusion:
Atriocaval shunting maybe a life-saving option for uncontrolled hemorrhage from injuries to the retrohepatic vena cava.
