Vascular injuries associated with penetrating wounds of the groin

Thirty-two patients were operated upon for suspected vascular injury following penetrating wounds of the groin. This injury is not uncommon, the patients survive to reach the hospital, and they require aggressive management. Vascular damage was found in 23 of the patients; there were no deaths and only one amputation. Eighteen of the 23 who had vessel injury were in shock upon arrival at the hospital. Of those subsequently found to have no vessel damage, none was in shock. Pulses distal to the injury were noted in six of the 23 patients. Arteriograms performed and interpreted by the surgery residents were helpful but not completely reliable. The repaired vessel must be covered adequately with viable tissue. The one amputation was in a patient in whom there was insufficient tissue to cover the repaired vessel. We conclude that general surgeons should be capable of managing this vascular injury.