Management Of Vascular Injuries Research Articles

Intraoperative management of REBOA: experiences and lessons learned from the London Trauma Network – 10 points for consideration

Non-compressible torso haemorrhage resulting from vascular injury is the leading cause of death in trauma patients. Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) provides temporary haemorrhage control, permits transfer for definitive care and is becoming established in trauma systems throughout Europe. Drawing on experience of managing these critically injured patients, it is clear that involvement of vascular surgeons is highly important. Surgical management of vascular injury and of potential procedural risks and distal ischaemia associated with REBOA is essential for delivering time critical, safe care. We share 10 key points for intraoperative REBOA management for the vascular surgeon, wider surgical team and the endovascular resuscitation team to jointly consider.

Prevention of Vascular Injuries during Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Tips for Management of Vascular Injury

Prevention of Vascular Injuries during Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Tips for Management of Vascular Injury

Management of Vascular Injury in a Vascular Center of a Developing Country

In surgical practice management of vascular injuries are challenging. Vascular injuries are well addressed in developed countries but there is scarcity of vascular surgeons in developing countries like us and a large number of victims fail to reach specialist in time with consequent loss of limbs or lives. To observe the pattern and outcome of management of vascular injury in a developing country this retrospective study was conducted at the department of vascular surgery, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, Bangladesh. All patients with vascular injury arrived alive were included in the study. Date in terms of age, sex, cause of injury, segment of vessel involved, associated injuries, time elapsed after injury, vascular procedures done and postoperative complications were taken from records of the department and were analyzed. Out of 2174 patients with vascular injury 11 patients died at resuscitation & 52 did not come back after referral to other hospitals for management of associated injuries. Most of the patients were young male & road traffic accidents was the most common cause (91.50%). Majority (53.60%) of the patients presented after 6 hours. Majority of the cases lower limb vessels were injured (64.05%). Among the associated injuries combine orthopedic & soft tissue injuries were most common (60.58%). Among the vascular procedures antilogous venous graft (42.39%) followed by end to end anastomosis (27.79%) were in majority of the cases. In case of extremity vascular injury limb amputation rate was 35.40%. This morbidity can be reduced by improvement of road safely measures, encouraging doctors to vascular surgery specialty and effective training of orthopedic & general surgeons in the management of extremity vascular injury till the availability of vascular surgeons for provision of vascular services in remote areas. Bangladesh Heart Journal 2021; 36(1) : 32-37

Traumatic injury to the great vessels of the chest.

This manuscript undertakes a brief focussed literature review of penetrating and blunt injury to the great vessels of the mediastinum (excluding iatrogenic vessel injury) and provides personal insights to the management of mediastinal vascular injury. It is not intended as a comprehensive or systematic review. Included are the aorta and its main branches, the superior vena-cava and its main tributaries (brachiocephalic veins) along with the less-appreciated, but equally serious, injuries to the pulmonary artery or vein and the Azygous or hemi-azygous veins. An overview of the epidemiology of these injuries is provided. The gross anatomy is briefly reviewed from the perspective of the surgeon., Practical diagnostic approaches, using an algorithm, operative access and repair options, along with endovascular considerations are briefly highlighted. The detail of the operative procedures will highlight practical points for concern and local tips-and-tricks. Practical take-home messages are provided from the personal perspective of the authors. This overview does not cover intercostal vessel or internal thoracic artery injury, both of which may cause significant bleeding and cardiac tamponade in the case of the latter vessel, but technically are outside the central mediastinum and are branches of great vessels and are therefore not included.

Intraoperative complications during laparoscopic total mesorectal excision

Intraoperative complication during laparoscopic mesorectal excision for rectal cancer is a common complication occurring in 11% to 15% of the cases. They are probably underestimated because not systematically reported. The most frequent intraoperative complications are hemorrhage (3-7%), tumor perforation (1-4%), bowel injury (1-3%), ureter injury (1%), urogenital injury (2%), other organ injury (<1%), and anastomotic complications (1%). The mechanisms, management and prevention of vascular port injury, inferior mesenteric artery bleeding, small bowel and colon perforation, ureteral and urethral injury, pelvic nerve damage, tumor perforation and anastomotic failure are described. This review underlines the necessity to prevent intraoperative complication to avoid operative death and severe side-effects.

Damage control surgery for thoracic outlet vascular injuries: the new resuscitative median sternotomy plus REBOA.

Thoracic vascular trauma is associated with high mortality and is the second most common cause of death in patients with trauma following head injuries. Less than 25% of patients with a thoracic vascular injury arrive alive to the hospital and more than 50% die within the first 24 hours. Thoracic trauma with the involvement of the great vessels is a surgical challenge due to the complex and restricted anatomy of these structures and its association with adjacent organ damage. This article aims to delineate the experience obtained in the surgical management of thoracic vascular injuries via the creation of a practical algorithm that includes basic principles of damage control surgery. We have been able to show that the early application of a resuscitative median sternotomy together with a zone 1 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in hemodynamically unstable patients with thoracic outlet vascular injuries improves survival by providing rapid stabilization of central aortic pressure and serving as a bridge to hemorrhage control. Damage control surgery principles should also be implemented when indicated, followed by definitive repair once the correction of the lethal diamond has been achieved. To this end, we have developed a six-step management algorithm that illustrates the surgical care of patients with thoracic outlet vascular injuries according to the American Association of the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification.

Endovascular management of pelvic trauma.

Traumatic pelvic injuries are an important group of acquired pathologies given their frequent association with significant vascular compromise. Potentially fatal as a consequence of rapid hemorrhage, achievement of early hemostasis is a priority; endovascular management of traumatic pelvic arterial injuries is an important potential option for treatment. Precipitated by any number of mechanisms of trauma, pelvic vascular injury necessitates timely patient assessment. Variable patterns of arterial injury may result from blunt, penetrating or iatrogenic trauma. Selection of the most appropriate imaging modality is a priority, ensuring streamlined access to treatment. In the case of CT, this is complemented by acquisition of the most appropriate phase of imaging; review of both arterial and delayed phase imaging improves the accuracy of detection of low-flow hemorrhage. In cases where surgical intervention is not deemed appropriate, endovascular treatment provides an alternative means for cessation of hemorrhage associated with pelvic injuries. This may be achieved in a selective or nonselective manner depending on the patient’s clinical status and time constraints. Consequently, a detailed understanding of vascular anatomy is essential, including an appreciation of the normal variant anatomy between males and females. Additional consideration must be given to variant anatomy which may co-exist in both sexes. This review article aims to provide a synopsis of endovascular management of pelvic vascular injury. Through case examples, available treatment options will be discussed, including thrombin injection and transcatheter arterial embolization. Furthermore, potential adverse complications of pelvic arterial embolization will be highlighted. Finally, in view of the potential severity of these injuries, a brief overview of initial management of the hemodynamically unstable patient is provided.

Management and Outcomes after Upper Versus Lower Extremity Vascular Trauma

BackgroundWhile significant literature exists regarding peripheral vascular injury management, the vast majority focuses on lower extremity arterial injury. As a result, clinical management of arterial injury in the upper extremities is often guided by literature specific to lower extremity vessel injury. The purpose of this study is to use the largest series of patients reported in the literature to compare management and outcomes of upper and lower extremity traumatic vascular injuries. MethodsPatients who underwent operative repair of traumatic vascular injuries of the extremities were identified from the trauma registry of a level I trauma center. A retrospective chart review (2011–2019) was conducted. Demographics, mechanism of injuries, operative techniques, and outcomes were compared between patients with upper versus lower extremity vascular injuries. ResultsFive hundred thirty-five patients were included with 234 (43.8%) patients undergoing repair of upper extremity vascular injuries. Patients with upper extremity vascular injuries were more likely to be female (16.7% vs. 9%, P = 0.007), have a pre-hospital tourniquet (21.8% vs. 12%,P = 0.002), have associated nerve injuries (40.2% vs. 4.7%, P < 0.0001) or present with bleeding (76.1% vs. 64.1%, P = 0.002) but were less commonly associated with concomitant fractures (25.6% vs. 39.9%, P = 0.0006). There was no difference in age, race, or mechanism of injury. In regards to operative management, upper extremity injuries were more likely to be managed with vessel ligation (38% vs. 17.6%, P < 0.0001) or primary reanastomosis (12.4% vs. 5.6%, P = 0.009) and were less frequently associated with concomitant fasciotomies (13.3% vs. 56.5%, P < 0.0001). Postoperatively, upper extremity injuries were associated with persistent nerve deficits (21.7% vs. 10%, P = 0.0002) while lower extremity injuries had a higher incidence of 30-day limb loss (5.7% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.008). There were no differences in mortality or graft-patency rates between groups. ConclusionsUpper extremity injuries are associated with a lower limb-loss rate but increased prevalence of neurological deficits after vascular trauma compared to lower extremities. A high level of suspicion is paramount to intraoperative identify associated nerve injuries to improve postoperative functional outcomes.

A needs assessment of Canadian general surgery postgraduate trauma training

BackgroundClinical exposure to operative trauma cases for general surgery residents has decreased over recent decades. However, trainees are still expected to demonstrate competency in trauma care and injury management. MethodsA prospective survey based on preliminary qualitative analysis and a trauma education conceptual framework was distributed to general surgery educators, trauma surgeons, and general surgery residents across the country. Participants were asked to describe their trauma training experience, the educational resources available at their training programs, and their level of support for potential curriculum components. Results45% (31/69) of educators and 14% (58/405) of trainees responded to the survey. Perceived deficiencies were identified in the operative management of thoracic (educators 13%, trainees 28%), mediastinal (3%, 14%), neck (16%, 33%), and vascular (26%, 47%) injuries. Additional educational deficiencies were also identified in the domains of trauma systems and epidemiology, research and quality improvement, and injury prevention. Educators identified more inadequacies in training than trainees. Both groups supported participation in radiology (77%, 85%) and guideline (74%, 90%) reviews, journal clubs (84%, 81%), education rounds (90%, 88%), leading trauma resuscitations (94%, 98%), and trauma resuscitation simulations (90%, 95%) as valuable educational initiatives. ConclusionsTrauma training in Canada is currently perceived to be inadequate to support resident education. The development and implementation of competency-based curricular components will be essential to address the identified deficiencies. This data will be used to inform the development of a national trauma training curriculum and initiatives to enhance resident education.

Endovascular management of vascular renal injuries: outcomes and comparison between traumatic and iatrogenic settings.

To evaluate the efficacy of endovascular treatment for vascular renal injuries (VRIs) like bleeding, pseudoaneurysm and artero-venous fistula (AVF) and to compare patients with blunt trauma (T-VRIs) with those with iatrogenic damage (I-VRIs). We retrospectively assessed 49 renal artery embolizations performed to treat T-VRIs (26.5%) and I-VRIs (73.5%). Different embolic materials were used based on the type of lesion. Technical success was defined as the complete occlusion of target arteries with no further visualization of VRIs. Clinical success was defined if no recurrence was present and if renal function (difference between creatinine after and before treatment <0.5 mg/dl) was preserved after 1 month. Angiography showed bleeding in 27 patients, pseudoaneurysm in 29 and an AVF in 6. Embolic agents used were coils in 39 procedures, coils with sponge in four and others in six. Technical success was 100% while clinical success was 85.7% due to seven patients with recurrence. The group I-VRIs showed a higher rate of clinical success than the group T-VRIs (94.4% vs 61.5%; p < 0.05). Moreover, the group I-VRIs had a higher incidence of pseudoaneurysms and AVFs compared with the group T-VRIs (69.4% vs 30.8% and 16.7% vs 0%; p < 0.05). Endovascular treatment for VRIs showed satisfactory results and no patient had a worsening of renal function. I-VRIs had better clinical success and more frequently appeared as pseudoaneurysms compared to T-VRIs: probably iatrogenic injury is localized and pseudoaneurysm is easily identifiable and treatable with endovascular treatment.

Intra-Operative Vascular Injury and Control During Laparoscopic and Robotic Mesh Explantation for Chronic Post Herniorrhaphy Inguinal Pain (CPIP)

Chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP) is common following inguinal hernia repair. As even primary minimally-invasive inguinal hernia repairs carry a risk of significant intra-operative bleeding, it is unsurprising that reoperative groin exploration and mesh explantation for chronic post-inguinal herniorrhaphy pain confers an even higher risk of arteriotomy or venotomy due to a distorted anatomy and the presence of adhesions. In this report, we present a single institution's experience with the management of intra-operative vascular injury encountered during minimally invasive groin exploration and mesh explantation for CPIP. We performed a retrospective consecutive case series study at a single academic center of patients with CPIP who underwent minimally invasive groin exploration and mesh removal during which an iatrogenic arteriotomy or venotomy occurred from September 2015 to September 2020. Descriptive statistics were collected for age, laterality of hernia repair, mean follow-up time, surgical approach (robotic vs. laparoscopic), type of intra-operative vascular injury, vascular control technique, and post-operative complications. Of 196 minimally invasive groin exploration and mesh removal cases, 46 were performed with robotic assistance and 150 were performed using traditional laparoscopy. The overall incidence of intra-operative vascular injury was 43 (22%). Fifteen of 46 (32%) robotic groin exploration and mesh removal cases and 28 of 150 (19%) laparoscopic cases involved vascular control. Three of 15 (20%) robotic cases and 23 of 28 (82%) laparoscopic cases involved a hybrid open inguinal approach to address anterior pathology (neurectomy, anterior mesh removal, hernia repair) or facilitate exposure for vascular repair. The most common site of injury was the inferior epigastric vessels. Other sites included the iliac vein, iliac artery, corona mortis, and accessory obturator vessels. Vascular control techniques included ligation with an energy device or suture, primary suture repair of injured vessel, or bovine pericardium patch angioplasty. All were managed without intra-operative vascular surgery intervention except for one case with extensive calcification that required endarterectomy and angioplasty to improve patency. No cases required conversion to midline laparotomy. Ninety three percent of the cases with large vessel bleeding during laparoscopic-assisted procedures were repaired via an open groin incision, whereas all cases of large vessel bleeding during robotic-assisted procedures were repaired robotically. None of the patients required transfusion. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (7%), 2 (5%) developed hematoma formation requiring surgical evacuation, and 1 (2%) developed ipsilateral iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and underwent peripheral angiography and thrombolysis. Although minimally invasive groin exploration and mesh explantation for CPIP is technically challenging, it is a safe and effective operation when performed at experienced centers. Iatrogenic vascular injury should be anticipated but can be effectively controlled laparoscopically, robotically, or via a hybrid open inguinal incision without conversion to a midline laparotomy and with low post-operative complication rates.

Management of Lower Limb Vascular Injuries in a Tertiary Care Centre

Context: Lower limb vascular trauma accounts for majority of peripheral vascular injuries. Delay in diagnosis and referral to higher centers in developing countries like India poses a major challenge with regard to optimum management of these vascular injuries. Aims: The aim was to study the time gap between injury and revascularization and the incidence of reperfusion injuries in patients presenting late to the hospital. Materials and Methods: This descriptive prospective study involved 51 patients who presented with clinical signs of vascular injury confirmed by handheld Doppler. In cases presenting late (more than 6 h), decision to proceed with revascularization versus primary amputation was based on distal muscle viability tested intraoperatively. All anastomosis were done under microscopic magnification with the use of venous graft wherever needed. Results: All 51 patients in the study were males with a mean age group of 32.6 years. Six patients underwent primary amputation. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury with popliteal artery involvement in most cases. Of the total 45 patients who underwent revascularization, 25 patients (55.5%) presented within the golden period of 6 h and only five patients (11.1%) underwent revascularization within 6 h of injury despite which we had a limb salvage rate of 88.8%. Reperfusion injury was seen in 14 patients, vascular thrombosis in three patients and two deaths were reported. Conclusions: We thus recommend that decision to reperfuse the involved limb should not be solely based on the time elapsed but also on factors such as muscle viability and neurological status, especially in a country like India.

Addressing Contemporary Management of Vascular Trauma: Optimization of Patient Care Through Collaboration.

Addressing Contemporary Management of Vascular Trauma: Optimization of Patient Care Through Collaboration.

Penetrating Popliteal Vascular Injury: Surgical Management and Early Outcome During Current War in Taiz –Yemen

Background: Popliteal vascular injury remains a challenging entity, and carries the greatest risk of limb loss among the lower extremity vascular injuries. Operative management of traumatic popliteal vascular injuries continues to evolve. We aim to review our experience with complex penetrating popliteal vascular injuries, thereby focusing on initial presentation, therapeutic challenges, and early outcomes. Methods: From September 2015 to December 2019, we managed total of 728 penetrating vascular injuries with 157 popliteal vascular injury presented to the Authority of Althawra hospital in Taiz- Yemen. Of 125 patients, 103 patients were fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Traumatic limb amputations were excluded from this study. Variables were retrospectively collected included patient demographics, mechanism and type of injury, limb ischemia time, clinical status at presentation, type of vascular reconstruction, associated complications, limb salvage, and mortality. Results: 157 vascular reconstructions were performed for 103 patients with penetrating popliteal vascular injuries, 94 (91.3%) were males and 9 (8.7%) were female. The mean age was 27.3 ± 12.3 years. There were 84 (18.6%) penetrating gunshot high-velocity injuries, and 19 (18.4%) blast injuries. Popliteal vascular injuries were the second most common accounting for 35% of lower extremity vascular injuries and 22.4% of the total vascular injuries. Nearly half 54 (52.4%) of the patients sustained complex popliteal vascular injuries (arterial and venous injuries), 85 (82.2%) isolated arterial injuries, and 72 (69.9%) isolated venous injuries. Management of vascular injury was repaired by saphenous venous interposition graft in 68 (66%), end-to-end anastomosis in 15 (14.5%), ligation in 1 (1%), and venous patch in 1(1%). Venous injury was repaired in 53 (51.4%) and ligated in 18 (17.5%). Less than 6 hours from injury to completed revascularization was achieved in 58 (56.3%) patients. The overall fasciotomy was 28 (27.2%) which significantly increased the length of hospital stays (17 days vs. 7 days, P=0.0003). The overall limb-salvage rate in our study was 94.2%. During the study period, the most common complication was 14 (13.6%) wound infection, 14 (13.6%) graft thrombosis, 6 (5.8%) bleeding, 4 (3.9%) graft infection. Early limb loss occurred in 6 (5.8%). In our study, the mortality rate was 2 (1.9%). Conclusions: Wartime penetrating popliteal vascular injury is a real challenge. However, team approach and promptly vascular repair found to associate with a remarkable limb salvage rate of 94.2%. We advocate repair of arterial injury with vein graft as the treatment of choice whenever possible.

Five-Year Management of Vascular Injuries of the Extremities in the “Real-World” Setting in Northeastern Greece: The Role of Iatrogenic Traumas

Vascular trauma comprises a diagnostic and surgical challenge. Aim of this study was to present the vascular traumas treated in our Tertiary Hospital during the last 5 years. We retrospectively reviewed the surgical records of our vascular department and documented the site and type of vascular injuries of the extremities along with the concurrence of musculoskeletal injuries. The type and outcome of surgical interventions were also recorded. Fifty-eight cases of vascular trauma were recorded (39 in the upper and 19 in the lower extremities). Overall, iatrogenic traumas accounted for 41.3% of cases. The arterial injuries of the upper limb were blunt and penetrating in 27% and 67%, respectively. The most affected artery in the upper limb was the radial artery (37.8%), followed by the ulnar artery (27%) and the brachial artery (24.3%). Orthopedic injuries were recorded in 19% of patients. Management involved simple revascularization, bypass operations, patch arterioplasty and endovascular management in 48.7%, 33.3%, 5.1%, and 5.1%, respectively. The most affected site in the lower extremity was the common femoral artery (36.8%) followed by the popliteal artery (21%). Bone fractures were reported in 5 cases (26.3%). The surgical management involved bypass, simple revascularization, patch arterioplasty in 42.1%, 26.3%, and 21%, respectively. Endovascular management was performed in 10.5%. A considerable percentage of iatrogenic vascular injuries was recorded, affecting both the upper and lower limbs. Despite the trend toward centralization of vascular services, a basic service of vascular surgery should be available in most sites to ensure that patients with vascular injuries receive fast and appropriate care.

Management And Outcomes After Upper Versus Lower Extremity Vascular Trauma

Significant literature exists regarding peripheral vascular injury management, the vast majority on lower extremities. As a result, management of arterial injuries in the upper extremities is often guided by literature specific to lower extremity vascular injuries. The purpose of this study is to use the largest single-center series reported in the literature to compare management and outcomes of upper and lower extremity injuries.

Management and Outcome of Traumatic Peripheral Vascular Injuries in A Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Management and Outcome of Traumatic Peripheral Vascular Injuries in A Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Reliability of the Mangled Extremity Severity Score in the Management of Peripheral Vascular Injuries in Children: A Retrospective Review.

This study was aimed to evaluate different management modalities for peripheral vascular trauma in children, with the aid of the Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS). A single-center retrospective analysis took place between 2010 and 2017 at University Hospitals, having emergencies and critical care centers. Different types of vascular repair were adopted by skillful vascular experts and highly trained pediatric surgeons. Patients were divided into three different age groups. Group I included those children between 5 and 10 years; group II involved pediatrics between 11 and 15 years; while children between 16 and 21 years participated in group III. We recruited 183 children with peripheral vascular injuries. They were 87% males and 13% females, with the mean age of 14.72 ± 04. Arteriorrhaphy was performed in 32%; end-to-end anastomosis and natural vein graft were adopted in 18% and 29% respectively. On the other hand, 20% underwent bypass surgery. The age groups I and II are highly susceptible to penetrating trauma ( p = 0.001), while patients with an extreme age (i.e., group III) are more susceptible to blunt injury ( p = 0.001). The MESS has a significant correlation to both age groups I and II ( p = 0.001). Vein patch angioplasty and end-to-end primary repair should be adopted as the main treatment options for the repair of extremity vascular injuries in children. Moreover, other treatment modalities, such as repair with autologous vein graft/bypass surgery, may be adopted whenever possible. They are cost-effective, reliable, and simple techniques with fewer postoperative complication, especially in poor/limited resources.

Hard signs gone soft: A critical evaluation of presenting signs of extremity vascular injury.

Despite advances in management of extremity vascular injuries, "hard signs" remain the primary criterion to determine need for imaging and urgency of exploration. We propose that hard signs are outdated and that hemorrhagic and ischemic signs of vascular injury may be of greater clinical utility. Extremity arterial injuries from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma PROspective Observational Vascular Injury Treatment registry were analyzed to examine the relationships between hard signs, ischemic signs, and hemorrhagic signs of extremity vascular injury with workup, diagnosis, and management. Of 1,910 cases, 1,108 (58%) had hard signs of vascular injury. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was more commonly used as the diagnostic modality in patients without hard signs, while operative exploration was primarily used for diagnosis in hard signs. Patients undergoing CTA were more likely to undergo endovascular or hybrid repair (EHR) (10.7%) compared with patients who underwent exploration for diagnosis (1.5%). Of 915 patients presenting with hemorrhagic signs, CTA was performed 14.5% of the time and was associated with a higher rate of EHR and observation. Of the 490 patients presenting with ischemic signs, CTA was performed 31.6% of the time and was associated with higher rates of EHR and observation. Hemorrhagic signs were associated with arterial transection, while ischemic signs were associated with arterial occlusion. Patients with ischemic signs undergoing exploration for diagnosis received more units of packed red blood cells during the first 24 hours. There was no difference in amputation rate, reintervention rate, hospital length of stay, or mortality in comparing groups who underwent CTA versus exploration. Hard signs have limitations in identification and characterization of extremity arterial injuries. A strategy of using hemorrhagic and ischemic signs of vascular injury is of greater clinical utility. Further prospective study is needed to validate this proposed redefinition of categorization of presentations of extremity arterial injury. Diagnostic, level III.

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-World Society of Emergency Surgery guidelines on diagnosis and management of abdominal vascular injuries.

Abdominal vascular trauma accounts for a small percentage of military and a moderate percentage of civilian trauma, affecting all age ranges and impacting young adult men most frequently. Penetrating causes are more frequent than blunt in adults, while blunt mechanisms are more common among pediatric populations. High rates of associated injuries, bleeding, and hemorrhagic shock ensure that, despite advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, immediate open surgical repair remains the mainstay of treatment for traumatic abdominal vascular injuries. Because of their devastating nature, abdominal vascular injuries remain a significant source of morbidity and mortality among trauma patients. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma in conjunction with the World Society of Emergency Surgery seek to summarize the literature to date and provide guidelines on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of abdominal vascular injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Review study, level IV.