Management Of Vascular Injuries Research Articles

Endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation for aortic pseudoaneurysm in a pediatric trauma patient

Endovascular treatment options for vascular injury in pediatric patients are quite limited owing to concerns regarding long-term durability and the lack of devices suitable for the pediatric anatomy. However, in rare circumstances, open surgical therapy will not be an option, and patients will require unconventional endovascular solutions for lifesaving or limb-saving therapies. In the present report, we describe an endovascular treatment of a pediatric patient for whom initial surgical management of a blunt abdominal aortic injury had failed, with subsequent development of an aortic pseudoaneurysm. A 10-year-old girl had presented after a high-speed motor vehicle accident with a seatbelt sign. Multiple abdominal injuries were identified, including blunt aortic injury, significant devitalization of the small bowel, colonic perforation with fecal contamination, multiple lumbar spine fractures, and pulmonary contusions. The patient developed bilateral lower extremity ischemia from the aortic injury and had initially undergone open repair. One month later, the patient had developed a pseudoaneurysm of the aorta near the aortic bifurcation. Because of the hostile abdomen and ensuing short gut syndrome, the pseudoaneurysm was managed using endovascular techniques. The limb of an Excluder internal iliac branch endoprosthesis (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) was used as the endograft. The aortic bifurcation was raised and reconstructed using four Viabahn self-expanding stents (W.L. Gore & Associates). The completion angiogram showed complete resolution of the pseudoaneurysm. The follow-up computed tomography angiogram showed widely patent stent grafts with complete resolution of the pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular management of traumatic vascular injuries in pediatric patients is feasible. The likelihood of reintervention in the future is high with patient growth. However, it is a viable option in lifesaving or limb-saving situations in which open repair is high risk.

Outcomes of vascular trauma associated with an evolution in the use of endovascular management

ObjectiveThe availability of endovascular techniques has led to a paradigm shift in the management of vascular injury. Although previous reports showed trends towards the increased use of catheter-based techniques, there have been no contemporary studies of practice patterns and how these approaches differ by anatomic distributions of injury. The objective of this study is to provide a temporal assessment of the use of endovascular techniques in the management of torso, junctional (subclavian, axillary, iliac), and extremity injury and to evaluate any association with survival and length of stay. MethodsThe American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Prospective Observational Vascular Injury Treatment registry (PROOVIT) is the only large multicenter database focusing specifically on the management of vascular trauma. Patients in the AAST PROOVIT registry from 2013 to 2019 with arterial injuries were queried, and radial/ulnar, and tibial artery injuries were excluded. The primary aim was to evaluate the frequency in use of endovascular techniques over time and by body region. A secondary analysis evaluated the trends for junctional injuries and compared the mortality between those treated with open vs endovascular repair. ResultsOf the 3249 patients included, 76% were male, and overall treatment type was 42% nonoperative, 44% open, and 14% endovascular. Endovascular treatment increased an average of 2% per year from 2013 to 2019 (range, 17%-35%; R2 = .61). The use of endovascular techniques for junctional injuries increased by 5% per year (range, 33%-63%; R2 = .89). Endovascular treatment was more common for thoracic, abdominal, and cerebrovascular injuries, and least likely in upper and lower extremity injuries. Injury severity score was higher for patients receiving endovascular repair in every vascular bed except lower extremity. Endovascular repair was associated with significantly lower mortality than open repair for thoracic (5% vs 46%; P < .001) and abdominal injuries (15% vs 38%; P < .001). For junctional injuries, endovascular repair was associated with a non-statistically significant lower mortality (19% vs 29%; P = .099), despite higher injury severity score (25 vs 21; P = .003) compared with open repair. ConclusionsThe reported use of endovascular techniques within the PROOVIT registry increased more than 10% over a 6-year period. This increase was associated with improved survival, especially for patients with junctional vascular injuries. Practices and training programs should account for these changes by providing access to endovascular technologies and instruction in the catheter-based skill sets to optimize outcomes in the future.

Vascular injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: An often-overlooked complication.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most frequently performed procedures in gastrointestinal surgery worldwide. Bleeding complications due to vascular injuries represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially when facing major bleeding during laparoscopy, where bleeding control can be technically challenging in inexperienced hands. Interestingly, the reported incidence rate of conversion to open surgery due to vascular lesions is approximately 0%-1.9%, with a mortality rate of approximately 0.02%. The primary aim of this article was to perform an up-to-date overview regarding the incidence and surgical management of vascular injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy according to the available scientific evidence.

Brazilian guidelines on diagnosis and management of traumatic vascular injuries

Resumo Trauma é uma causa importante de morbimortalidade, que acomete principalmente jovens. A hemorragia incoercível é o principal mecanismo de óbito precoce nessas vítimas, e as lesões vasculares não compressíveis representam grandes desafios para os cirurgiões. O traumatismo vascular impacta diretamente a viabilidade de membros traumatizados, aumentando o risco de amputação. Nas últimas décadas, muitas condutas de diagnóstico e tratamento de lesões vasculares traumáticas foram modificadas. A angiotomografia suplantou a angiografia como padrão ouro para diagnóstico, as técnicas endovasculares foram incorporadas ao arsenal terapêutico e o conceito de “controle de danos” foi estabelecido. No entanto, há lacunas na literatura nacional sobre a normatização de condutas em trauma vascular, principalmente considerando as limitações do Brasil. Por isso, a Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e de Cirurgia Vascular e a Sociedade Brasileira de Atendimento Integrado ao Traumatizado revisaram a literatura disponível sobre trauma vascular e organizaram diretrizes sobre o diagnóstico e tratamento dessas lesões.

Brazilian guidelines on diagnosis and management of traumatic vascular injuries.

Trauma is a leading cause of death, permanent disability, and health care cost worldwide. The young and economically active are the most affected population. Exsanguination due to noncompressible torso hemorrhage is one of the most frequent causes of early death, posing a significant challenge to trauma and vascular surgeons. The possibility of limb loss due to vascular injuries must also be considered. In recent decades, the approach to vascular injuries has been significantly modified. Angiotomography has become the standard method for diagnosis, endovascular techniques are currently incorporated in treatment, and damage control, such as temporary shunts, is now the preferred approach for the patients sustaining physiological derangement. Despite the importance of this topic, few papers in the Brazilian literature have offered guidelines on vascular trauma. The Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery has developed Projetos Diretrizes (Guideline Projects), which includes this publication on vascular trauma. Since treating trauma patients is a multidisciplinary effort, the Brazilian Trauma Society (SBAIT) was invited to participate in this project. Members of both societies reviewed the literature on vascular trauma management and together wrote these guidelines on vascular injuries of neck, thorax, abdomen, and extremities.

General surgical unit experience of traumatic vascular injuries in an Australian regional hospital

Background: Vascular trauma is a significant burden to the regional community due to the associated high morbidity and mortality from the complications of the injuries. This may be due to the complexity of the injuries and the issues with initial management at the regional hospitals. Vascular injury management training should improve the outcome of initial surgical management by the general surgical team in regional centres. The study aims to describe the epidemiology and management of vascular injury in regional hospitals in Queensland, Australia.Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis was performed using the data of patients with traumatic vascular injuries between January 2017 and July 2021 presented to Hervey Bay hospital in Queensland, Australia.Results: Fifty-nine patients with vascular injuries were reviewed. The reported number of penetrating and blunt trauma cases were 43 (72.9%) and 16 (27.1%) respectively, and 42 (71.2%) were males. Most mechanisms of injury were cuts (n=32, 54.2%), followed by falls (n=16, 27.1%) and stabs (n=11, 18.7%). Fifty-one (86.4%) were initially surgically managed regionally, with 21 (35.6%) requiring transfer to a tertiary trauma centre. Outcomes of the incidents resulted in one (1.7%) patient requiring amputation, three (5.1%) needing a fasciotomy and the mortality of two (3.4%) patients.Conclusions: Vascular trauma causes a significant burden to Australian regional hospitals. Identifying injury patterns and common causes for vascular injury will help in early identification and prompt management. Vascular trauma management training should improve the quality of care from the general surgeons in the regional centres.

A Simple Scoring Model for Evaluation of Concomitant Vascular Injuries in Patients with Lower Extremity Open Fractures.

Timely diagnosis and management of concomitant vascular injuries is usually needed for the management of lower extremity open fractures. In the current study, a prediction model and simplified scoring system of vascular injuries were developed for the primary evaluation of patients with lower extremity open fractures. Patients with lower extremity open fractures were retrospectively reviewed from 2017 to 2020. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate independent risk factors for concomitant vascular injuries in these patients using data collected from 2017 through 2019 and a prediction scoring model was created accordingly. Model performance was validated with data from 2020. In total, 949 patients with lower extremity open fractures (development cohort, 705 patients, 2017 through 2019; validation cohort, 244 patients, 2020) were enrolled. Concomitant vascular injuries occurred in 44 patients in the development cohort (6.2%). Three clinical variables were identified for a prediction scoring model with weighted points, including hard or soft vascular signs (3 points), segmental fractures (2 points), and degloving soft-tissue injury (1 point). The model showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.928), calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.661), and precision (Brier score, 0.041). Subsequent management regarding different aspects (observation only, further imaging study, or direct surgical exploration) can thus be decided. The model also demonstrated good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.949), good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.174), and good precision (Brier score, 0.042) in the validation cohort. This model may guide the subsequent management of vascular injuries associated with lower extremity open fractures. Risk, III.

Epigenetic basis of diabetic vasculopathy.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes peripheral vascular disease because of which several blood-borne factors, including vital nutrients fail to reach the affected tissue. Tissue epigenome is sensitive to chronic hyperglycemia and is known to cause pathogenesis of micro- and macrovascular complications. These vascular complications of T2DM may perpetuate the onset of organ dysfunction. The burden of diabetes is primarily because of a wide range of complications of which nonhealing diabetic ulcers represent a major component. Thus, it is imperative that current research help recognize more effective methods for the diagnosis and management of early vascular injuries. This review addresses the significance of epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications in the evolution of macrovascular and microvascular complications of T2DM.

Vascular injury during cholecystectomy: A multicenter critical analysis behind the drama

BackgroundThe management of a vascular injury during cholecystectomy is still very complicated, especially in centers not specialized in complex hepatobiliary surgery. MethodsThis was a multi-institutional retrospective study in patients with vascular injuries during cholecystectomy from 18 centers in 4 countries. The aim of the study was to analyze the management of vascular injuries focusing on referral, time to perform the repair, and different treatments options outcomes. ResultsA total of 104 patients were included. Twenty-nine patients underwent vascular repair (27.9%), 13 (12.5%) liver resection, and 1 liver transplant as a first treatment. Eighty-four (80.4%) vascular and biliary injuries occurred in nonspecialized centers and 45 (53.6%) were immediately transferred. Intraoperative diagnosed injuries were rare in referred patients (18% vs 84%, P = .001). The patients managed at the hospital where the injury occurred had a higher number of reoperations (64% vs 20%, P ˂ .001). The need for vascular reconstruction was associated with higher mortality (P = .04). Two of the 4 patients transplanted died. ConclusionVascular lesions during cholecystectomy are a potentially life-threatening complication. Management of referral to specialized centers to perform multiple complex multidisciplinary procedures should be mandatory. Late vascular repair has not shown to be associated with worse results.

Endovascular Management of Iatrogenic Renal Vascular Injuries: Case Series and Systematic Review.

To assess the results of RAE for the treatment of IRVI and its impact on the renal function of patients. Retrospective analysis of all patients who presented vascular complications after renal procedures and who were referred for management by RAE, between August 2012 and December 2020. 18 patients were included. 4 patients presented with pseudoaneurysm, 10 patients with active bleeding, and 1 patient with arteriovenous fistula; 2 patients had a combination of different IRVI; 1 patient did not present any findings at the time of renal angiography in dissonance with her computed tomography angiography. Technical and clinical success was achieved in all patients. One renal artery dissection was the only complication. No differences were found in serum creatinine (p = 0.51), urea (p = 0.37), hemoglobin (p = 0.26) and hematocrit (p = 0.24) after embolization. EAR is a safe and effective method for the treatment of IRVI, achieving a very high technical and clinical success rate with a low incidence of complications and without significant repercussions on the renal function of patients.

Camel-related major vascular injuries: A 20-years’ experience

BackgroundMajority of human animal-related injuries in the United Arab Emirates are caused by camels. These may involve major vessels and can be life-threatening. We aimed to study the biomechanism, injured regions, management, and outcome of major camel-related human vascular injuries. MethodsWe retrospectively studied all patients who were admitted to Al-Ain Hospital with camel-related major vascular injury during January 2001 to January 2020. Studied variables included demography, mechanism of injury, injured structures, clinical presentation, vital signs on arrival, associated injuries, surgical management, ICU stay, length of hospital stay, complications, and outcome. ResultsSeven patients were studied; all were males having a median age of 26 years. Five out of six bite injuries (83%) occured during the camel rutting season. The injuries were severe and life-threatening. A camel bite causes four small elliptical wounds of the canine teeth which resembles two stab wounds of 8 cm long, penetrating deeply and injuring major vessels. Four involved the carotid artery, one the femoral artery and vein, one the external iliac vein and one the aorta which was due to a fall from a camel. Although the standard of surgical care was high, the outcome was poor. Six patients were admitted to the ICU for a median of 5 days. One patient died, one became vegetative, and one had arm paralysis. ConclusionsMajor camel-related vascular injuries have a poor clinical outcome. This is related to the biomechanism of injury which combines penetrating, crushing and blunt trauma. Neck wounds of camel bites can be closed primarily after debridement.

Vascular Trauma in the Extremities: Factors Associated with the Outcome and Assessment of Amputation Indexes.

Traumatic vascular injury in the extremities may be associated with a low mortality rate but can lead to limb loss that seriously affects patients' functionality. Multiple scoring systems have been designed to evaluate the prognosis, but none are 100% predictive. The management of traumatic vascular injury remains challenging and depends mostly on the surgeon's experience. We identified the risks associated with limb loss and further investigated the utility of current amputation indexes. We retrospectively reviewed 53 cases of traumatic vascular injury in the extremities at a tertiary referral medical center over the past ten years (January 2011-December 2020). The mangled extremity severity score (MESS), limb salvage index (LSI), and predictive salvage index (PSI) were used to assess the traumatized limbs. The injury characteristics and outcomes were evaluated using regression analysis. The incidence of limb loss was 20.8% (n = 11), and open fractures were the most related factor. Extensive involvement of soft tissue, vascular injury combined with tibia or fibula fractures, initial shock status, and the amount of transfusion were associated with limb loss. Our study identified the risk factors and clinical utility of MESS, PSI, and LSI. While both LSI and PSI had acceptable diagnostic accuracy, amputation should be decided based on a variety of criteria and clinical features. Salvaging any limb that has not become apparently futile seems logical, yet the presence of certain factors may suggest a worse outcome.

Management of Complex Upper Extremity Trauma with Associated Vascular Injury.

Introduction Combined soft tissue and vascular injuries of the upper extremity pose several challenges at once to the plastic surgeon. Many decisions have to be taken urgently that will influence the salvage or amputation of the affected extremity. The aim of this article was to provide an evidence-based outline for the management of such injuries. Learning objectives of this article are as follows: (1) approach to a patient with upper extremity composite tissue and vascular injury presenting to the emergency, (2) decision-making as to when to salvage and when to go for amputation of the traumatized upper extremity, (3) role of imaging in emergency situation, (4) role of fasciotomy, (5) intraoperative sequencing of steps, and (6) options for vascular reconstruction and the flaps used for coverage. After reading this article, the reader should have a clear understanding of the management of vascular injury in a patient with composite defects of upper extremity.

Outcomes of traumatic extremity vascular injuries from a Malaysian level 1 trauma center

BackgroundIn Malaysia, management of traumatic vascular injuries is at the discretion of the treating surgeon (trauma or vascular surgery). This study was conducted to report on the epidemiology, mechanism of injury and outcomes of vascular injuries managed in a regional level 1 trauma center. MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of all patients treated for traumatic extremity vascular injuries from January 2018 to December 2020. Demography, mechanism of injury, pre-operative physiologic vital signs, vessel injured, injury severity (NISS, RTS and TRISS score), type of revascularization surgery, fasciotomy, post-operative blood investigations, operative outcomes (amputation, length of stay and ICU admission) and long-term rehabilitation follow-up were recorded and analyzed. ResultsAmongst the 35 recorded vascular injuries only 28 patients had adequate data that were included in the analysis. Majority of patients were males (23/28patients; 82%). Blunt injury to vessels was more likely in motorcycle crashes (16/28patients; 76%) than in automobile crashes (5/28patients; 24%). There were three lower limb amputees (3/3patients; 100%) that had early fasciotomy and were associated with three-fold higher post-operative median (interquartile range) CK levels of 16740 (8157 to 23116) u/l. Only two thirds (16/28 patients) had active rehabilitation follow-up and were back to work after a median duration of four months. ConclusionMale gender, blunt injury, road traffic crashes and motorcycles were the majority of vascular injuries. Lower limb vascular injuries had poorer outcome with three amputations performed after attempts at revascularization. Fasciotomy and high CK level may be related to higher risk of limb loss. Our study highlights the importance of rehabilitation and long-term follow-up in this cohort of patients.

Principles and Surgical Techniques in the Management of Intraoperative Retroperitoneal Vascular Injury

Objective: To assess the surgical techniques and ideas in the treatment of the intraoperative retroperitoneal vascular injury. Methods: Between Oct 2017 and Dec 2019, 85 retroperitoneal tumor patients with retroperitoneal vascular injury intraoperatively in Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, the arterial injury occurred in 52 patients, the venous injury occurred in 49 patients, and 16 patients had both arterial and venous injuries. Main disease diagnosis, common types of vascular injury, different management methods, and results of vascular injury were analyzed. Results: The most common type of diagnosis is a retroperitoneal primary malignant tumor, followed by metastatic malignant tumor and retroperitoneal benign tumor. The most frequent injury arteries were the aorta (12 patients) and common iliac artery (12 patients), followed by the external iliac artery (6 patients) and superior mesenteric artery (6 patients). The most frequent injury vein was inferior vena cava (10 patients), followed by internal iliac vein (7 patients), external iliac vein (6 patients), inferior mesenteric vein (6 patients), and common iliac vein (4 patients). A total of 19 patients received artificial vessels replacements, including aortic replacement (4 patients), renal artery replacement (1 patient), superior mesenteric artery (2 patients), common iliac artery (5 patients), external iliac artery (3 patients), inferior vena cava (1 patient), Right renal vein (1 patient), common iliac vein (1 patient) and external iliac vein (1 patient). The remaining patients underwent ligation and sutures to achieve hemostasis. All patients attained hemostasis in the operating room and were admitted to medical wards or the medical ICU. After artificial vessels replacements, one patient died of DIC postoperatively, other patients had an uneventful perioperative course, no anastomotic bleeding was reported. Conclusion: In the management of intraoperative retroperitoneal vascular injury, it is important to assess the extent of injury, select reasonable remediation methods, and adopt artificial vessels replacements when necessary.

V41 - Management of vascular injury in laparoscopic urology

V41 - Management of vascular injury in laparoscopic urology

Management of vascular trauma across Canada: A cohort study with implications for practice

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to provide a description of vascular trauma and its management at trauma centers across Canada. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated patients from 8 Canadian level 1 trauma centers (2011–2015). Medical records were queried to identify adult patients who survived to hospital with major vascular injury. Major vascular injury was defined as injury to named arterial or venous vessels in the legs, arms torso, and neck. Data collected included patient demographics, injury mechanism, injury details, management and clinical outcomes. ResultsA total of 1330 patients were included. Patients were 76% male with a mean age of 43 (SD 18.8). Reported injuries were 63% blunt, 36% penetrating, and the remainder mixed. The most common specific mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collision (36%), stabbing (26%), and falls (16%), with gunshot injuries accounting for <5%. Pre-hospital tourniquets were applied in 27 patients (2%). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 24 (SD 14.5). We identified injuries to named vessels of the neck (32%), thorax (23%), abdomen and pelvis (27%), upper extremity (14%) and lower extremity (10%). Specific vascular injuries included transection (50%), complete occlusion (11%), partial occlusion (39%), and pseudoaneurysm formation (11%). Injuries were managed non-operatively in 32%, with definitive open surgical management (24%), endovascular management (9%) and with damage control techniques in the operating room (3%). Amputation occurred in 10% of lower extremity and 5% of upper extremity injuries. Responsibility for vascular injury management was undertaken by a wide variety of specialists (n = 17). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 13%, and 2% of patients underwent amputation. ConclusionThis study describes the nature and management of vascular injuries across Canada. The variability in injury mechanisms, management strategies, specialty responsible for management, and outcomes have important implications for practice change and knowledge translation.

Incidence and Management of Vascular Injuries after Invasive Cardiac Catheterization in Children

Background: Vascular injuries after cardiac catheterization are well documented in adult population. The incidence of vascular injuries after pediatric cardiac catheterization is not as well defined. With the advent of therapeutic cardiac catheterization in pediatric patients, the incidence of vascular complications is likely to increase. Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and management of vascular injuries associated with pediatric cardiac catheterization as an initial experience of in a newly established pediatric center. Methods: This retrospective and observational study was conducted on 268 children with congenital heart disease who have undergone cardiac catheterization either as diagnostic procedure or a therapeutic intervention between March 2018 and August 2019. Patient records were reviewed to obtain demographic, procedural, and treatment data. Patients were analyzed for the incidence and the type of vascular injury seen and treatment given for the same. The type of vascular injury was divided in to major and minor based on severity of the injury. Results: Diagnostic cardiac catheterization was performed in 77 patients and interventions in 191 patients. A total of 62 (23.1%) patients developed some vascular injury out of which 60 (22.3%) cases had minor complication and 2 (0.7%) had major a complication. The most common type of vascular complication seen in our study was transient loss of femoral pulse. Conclusions: Vascular injury is common in children undergoing cardiac catheterization, majority of which are minor complications and can be managed conservatively. They are seen more commonly during therapeutic cardiac catheterization. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to identify the risk factors for vascular injury.

A Case of Meningocele in the Sphenoid Sinus with a Risk of Internal Carotid Artery Rupture: Precaution and Management of Intraoperative Vascular Injury

A Case of Meningocele in the Sphenoid Sinus with a Risk of Internal Carotid Artery Rupture: Precaution and Management of Intraoperative Vascular Injury

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.