MANAGEMENT OF MILITARY VASCULAR INJURIES

From January 1995 to December 1999, 63 patients with vascular injuries caused by high-velocity military missiles we­ re admitted to our hospital in a period of 15 minutes to 1O hours (mean 2,3 hours). There were 58 (76,3%) arterial and 18 (23,7%) venous injuries. Vascular injuries concomitant with 28 (36,9%) bone fracture, 6 (7,9%) nerve injuries, 9 (11,8%) hemopneumothorax and 1 (1,3%) abdominal injuries. The treatment of the injured arteries were 39 (51,3%) saphenous vein interposition grafting, 13 (17,1%) end to end anastomosis, 12 (15,7%) primary suture, 7 (9,2%) synthetic graft replacement and 5 (6,6%) ligation. Three patients (3,9%) died because of hipovolemic shock. Five pa­ tients undervent amputation (6,6%) and fasciotomy was performed after vascular repair in 11 cases (14,5%).At the military vascular injuries, the surgeon must be quick, experienced, equipped and determined..