Peripheral vascular injuries due to trauma: pims experience

ABSTRACT

Peripheral vascular injuries due to trauma are on the rise in Pakistan. Morbidity in the form of amputation is very high because of late presentation of the patients to a centre where facilities for vascular surgery are available. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors responsible for late presentation, and poor outcome of vascular repair in such cases. Clinical and operative details of 51 patients with peripheral vascular trauma, who underwent surgical intervention between 1994 to 1998 at PIMS, were reviewed. Type of injury, mode of presentation, time between injury and arrival to the hospital, methods of vascular repair, use of graft or vein, and outcome of the procedure were analyzed.Patients with late presentation, combined arterial and venous injuries involving the popliteal artery and its branches were associated with high amputation rate, There were 45 arterial and 6 isolated venous injuries. After surgical repair, 9 [17.5 percent] patients required amputation due to various reasons. Time is the key factor in determining the final outcome of vascular repair. The delay can be avoided by rapid transfer of such patients to a major hospital