Extracorporeal sheath shunt technique in trauma: A different vascular shunt in civilian trauma

Temporary intravascular shunts are widely used in military surgery, representing a bridging until definitive vascular reconstruction. In civilian practice, shunts are mainly used as damage control and as a temporary measure until orthopaedic fixation. The objective of this report is to illustrate a new approach to the temporary restoration of perfusion during open management of extremity arterial injury.

The authors present a technique that uses sheaths introducers, instead of commercial or purpose-built shunts, which can be used through surgical or percutaneous approaches. Three clinical cases are presented where this technique was performed.Results/Conclusion: In the presented cases, this technique reduced time of shunt construction by avoiding artery surgical approach. This technique can facilitate the creation of an intravascular shunt among other than vascular surgeons.