Iatrogenic vascular injuries. A review of 125 cases (excluding angiographic injuries)

From the files of an insurance company and from a number of our own files as expert medical witness to the court we have been able to collect 125 cases of malpractice suits following a iatrogenic vascular injury. An analytic study has revealed the following: --12 vascular injuries occurred after stripping of varicose veins of the lower extremities; --4 accidents occurred during arterial surgery; --35 lesions followed orthopedic surgery; and --2 general surgery. Besides these 53 injuries following surgical procedures, 72 injuries are described following non-surgical diagnostic or therapeutic procedures: --sclerotherapy of varicose veins or angiomas: 34 cases; --injection of anesthesic agents: 20 cases; --injections, infusions, catheterisms: 16 cases; and --endoscopic procedures: 2 cases. Vascular risk exists in almost all medico-surgical procedures and requires constant and careful attention since professional responsibility is easily involved. Early recognition and early correction of the vascular lesion reduce the incidence and the gravity of the complications.