Factors effecting mortality in abdominal major vascular injuries

Abstract

Background and Aim: Despite recent advancements of medical facilities and improvements in surgical techniques, traumatic abdominal major vascular injuries still has high morbidity and mortality rates. Our objective in this study is to investigate the factors effecting mortality in patients who had surgery due to abdominal major vascular injury. Methods: Seventeen patients who had emergent surgery for abdominal major vascular injury were analyzed retrospectively. Age, gender, cause of injury, existence of additional organ injuries, vascular repair technique, blood replacement, mortality and duration of hospital stay are evaluated. Results: The study group consisted of 16 male and 1 female patients. Average age was 28.4 +/- 8.3. Cause of injury was firearms for 15 patients (88.2 %), cutter for 1 patient (5.9 %) and traffic accident in vehicle for 1 patient (5.9 %). Iliac veins, iliac arteries and vena cava inferior were the most injured vessels. Elapsed time between injury and operation was 140.0 +/- 18.2 minutes for patients who have died, 97.3 +/- 16.1 minutes for the other patients (p=0.003). For patients who had additional organ injury accompanying vessel injury, mortality rate was higher (p=0.028). Four patients have died (23,5 %). Conclusion: Successful surgical results in abdominal vascular injuries depend on well knowledge of abdominal vascular anatomy, experience in vascular repair techniques, less additional organ injury and surgical intervention without delay.