[Gunshot pellet wounds of the major blood vessels]

The treatment of 14 patients with small-shot wounds of large blood vessels is analyzed. The specific features of such injuries are described and reasons of diagnostic errors at the stage of evacuation to a specialized department are found out. The use of reconstructive operations favoured the recovery of adequate arterial flow in 10 patients. Two patients were subjected to amputation of the extremities and one patient died due to a great small-shot injuries of vessels and nerves from a close distance.