Cold weather has been known to be a threat to humans since the beginning of recorded history. Cold injury as a threat has intensified during periods of armed conflict. Its devastating results were detailed during the American Revolution and in…
Arterial Injury Inadvertent intraarterial drug injection (IADI) can result from administration of medication by health care providers or injection of illicit substances. Iatrogenic intraarterial injection was first reported 60 years ago and is estimated to occur in between 1 in…
Despite many advances in the management of acute limb ischemia, this sudden-onset disease entity continues to have a high morbidity and mortality related both to limb loss and to the development of adverse systemic complications that can lead to renal…
The term compartment syndrome invokes the concept of a pathophysiologic process in which elevated tissue pressures within inelastic surroundings result in neurovascular or muscular damage. The development of compartment syndrome is commonly anticipated in certain clinical scenarios, particularly in patients…
Blunt injury to the popliteal artery is commonly associated with trauma to the knee of sufficient force to result in either a knee dislocation or fracture. A review of 100 blunt popliteal artery injuries at our institution found that automobile…
Lessons learned during United States military operations continue to advance the practice of vascular trauma surgery. Evolving resuscitative strategies, surgical management of fractures and soft tissue wounds, and the expanding application of endovascular therapies represent the latest developments in the…
Although there is appeal in the less invasive nature of percutaneous procedures, access-related complications can be a source of significant morbidity and even mortality. Bleeding, arterial injury, ischemia, and nerve injury are common problems encountered in an environment where high…
Aortic trauma is typically fatal, with 80% of mortality occurring at the scene of injury. Recent improvements in prehospital care, decreases in transport times, and improvement in diagnosis have increased the opportunity for patients to undergo operative intervention. The management…
Abdominal vascular trauma is quite infrequent within the broader context of all traumatic injuries. However, these injuries can have high morbidity and mortality. Their significant heterogeneity in acuity of presentation, associated morbidity, and recommended management styles make an algorithmic approach…
This chapter provides an overview of penetrating injures to the aortic arch and intrathoracic great vessels. Because these short-segment vascular structures are clustered in the confined space of the mediastium, the first portion of this chapter reviews the overall epidemiology,…