Management of acute civilian vascular injuries

Vascular trauma continues to be an exciting and formidable challenge to surgeons. Increasing numbers of survivors of major vascular trauma such as suprarenal aortic and caval injuries are being reported in the literature. Successful repair of venous injuries rather than ligation is being achieved in significant numbers of cases. Combined team approaches utilizing new techniques of microvascular surgery and orthopedic fixation have dramatically improved the results of revascularization in extremity injuries and subsequent restoration of limb function.