Major arterial trauma: review of experience with 267 injuries

Experience with 267 arterial injuries treated over a 3--4-year period is reported. Vessels in the lower limb were involved most commonly (43 per cent), but there was also a relatively high incidence of carotid (13 per cent) and subclavian (9 per cent) injuries in this series. Penetrating wounds (stab and gunshot) were most commonly responsible. We found that serious distal ischaemia is uncommon in upper limb injuries, but expanding haematoma at the root of the limb is a cause of mortality and serious morbidity. Selective use of preoperative angiography is recommended. Successful results follow liberal use of interposition grafts after wide excision of doubtful vessel, rigorous wound excision, delayed primary closure and fixation of associated fractures. Repair of concomitant venous injuries should always be attempted but is more important in the lower than the upper limb. Late revascularization in the presence of critical ischaemia yields a 50 per cent limb salvage rate, but great care must be taken to avoid renal insufficiency and, if it occurs, energetic treatment is necessary for survival.