Vascular trauma at a university teaching hospital

Fifty-two patients with vascular trauma have been managed by the St Vincent's Hospital Vascular Surgical Unit during the 5 year period 1982-86. The mean age of the patients was 39.7 years; 81% were male. Penetrating, blunt and iatrogenic trauma were equally represented. Forty-nine of the patients underwent 63 operations performed by members of the unit. Twenty-five of the patients had significant non-vascular injuries, requiring 29 other operations. Pre-operative angiography was used rarely in urgent cases. All vascular reconstructions were noted to be patent during the follow-up period, with a mean of 20 months, except in one instance, where an amputation resulted from failed surgery. One patient died from a complication of the vascular surgery.