Truncal vascular injury--factors influencing survival

During the 10-year period ending June 1982, 219 patients were treated for 269 injuries to the major vessels of the abdominal and thoracic cavities, with 28% morbidity and 32% mortality. One hundred eighty patients (82%) had 377 associated injuries consisting primarily of damage to the small intestine (79), liver (45), and large intestine (34). Factors associated with an increased mortality included: more than three associated injuries; two or more nonvascular complications; more than two vessels injured; admission to ER in shock; injury to abdominal aorta or inferior vena cava; and injury to the porta hepatis. The majority of deaths (73%) were due to acute blood loss and irreversible shock. Factors unrelated to acute blood loss and shock had minimal effects on survival.