WSES position paper on vascular emergency surgery

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Trauma to major vessels, including blunt and penetrating injuries, is a global health concern.
• Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is a life-threatening emergency with high mortality rates, often exceeding 85%.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the management of neck, chest, extremities, and abdominal trauma.
• To review recent literature on ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA).
• To analyze the rationale for transfer to a referral center, the role of preoperative imaging, and compare Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) with Open Repair (OR) for rAAA.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent evidence-based data and expert opinions on trauma management.
• Literature review focused on ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA).
• Discussion of treatment strategies including transfer, preoperative imaging, and surgical repair options (EVAR vs. OR).

Main Results:

• Immediate diagnosis and treatment are critical for survival in major vascular trauma and rAAA.
• The paper synthesizes current knowledge on managing diverse traumatic injuries.
• Comparative analysis of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) and Open Repair (OR) for rAAA is presented.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of major vascular trauma requires specialized surgical expertise.
• Timely intervention and appropriate treatment strategies, including consideration of EVAR vs. OR for rAAA, are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Further research and adherence to evidence-based guidelines are essential for optimizing care in vascular trauma.