RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The inferior vena cava is the most frequently injured vascular structure in penetrating abdominal trauma. We aimed to review inferior vena cava injury cases treated at a limited resources facility and to discuss the surgical management for such injures. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with inferior vena cava injuries who were treated at a single center between January 2011 and January 2020. Data pertaining to the following were assessed: demographic parameters, hypovolemic shock at admission, the distance that the patient had to be transported to reach the hospital, affected anatomical segment, treatment, concomitant injuries, complications, and mortality. Non-parametric data were analyzed using Fisher's exact, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, or Kruskal-Wallis test, as applicable. The Student's t-test was used to assess parametric data. Moreover, multiple logistic regression analyses (including data of possible death-related variables) were performed. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05. RESULTS: Among 114 patients with inferior vena cava injuries, 90.4% were male, and the majority were aged 20-29 years. Penetrating injuries accounted for 98.2% of the injuries, and the infrarenal segment was affected in 52.7% of the patients. Suturing was perfomed in 69.5% and cava ligation in 29.5% of the patients, and 1 patient with retrohepatic vena cava injury was managed non-operatively. The overall mortality was 52.6% with no case of compartment syndrome in the limbs. A total of 7.9% of the patients died during surgery. CONCLUSION: The inferior vena cava is often injured by penetrating mechanisms, and the most frequently affected segment was the infrarenal segment. A higher probability of death was not associated with injury to a specific anatomical segment. Additionally, cava ligation was not related to an increased probability of compartment syndrome in the leg; therefore, prophylactic fasciotomy was not supported.
Assuntos
Traumatismos Abdominais/cirurgia , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/cirurgia , Veia Cava Inferior/lesões , Ferimentos Penetrantes/cirurgia , Traumatismos Abdominais/mortalidade , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Complicações Pós-Operatórias , Estudos Retrospectivos , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Ferimentos Penetrantes/mortalidadeRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: extremity tourniquet (TQ) use has increased in the civilian setting; the beneficial results observed in the military has influenced acceptance by EMS and bystanders. This review aimed to analyze extremity TQ types used in the civilian setting, injury site, indications, and complications. METHODS: a systematic review was conducted based on original articles published in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane following PRISMA guidelines from 2010 to 2019. Data extraction focused on extremity TQ use for hemorrhage control in the civilian setting, demographic data, study type and duration, mechanism of injury, indications for use, injury site, TQ type, TQ time, and complications. RESULTS: of the 1384 articles identified, 14 were selected for review with a total of 3912 civilian victims with extremity hemorrhage and 3522 extremity TQ placements analyzed. The majority of TQs were applied to male (79%) patients, with blunt or penetrating trauma. Among the indications for TQ use were hemorrhagic shock, suspicion of vascular injuries, continued bleeding, and partial or complete traumatic amputations. Upper extremity application was the most common TQ application site (56%), nearly all applied to a single extremity (99%), and only 0,6% required both upper and lower extremity applications. 80% of the applied TQs were commercial devices, and 20% improvised. CONCLUSIONS: TQ use in the civilian setting is associated with trauma-related injuries. Most are single-site TQs applied for the most part to male adults with upper extremity injury. Commercial TQs are more commonly employed, time in an urban setting is under 1 hour, with few complications described.
Assuntos
Exsanguinação/prevenção & controle , Hemorragia/prevenção & controle , Torniquetes/estatística & dados numéricos , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/terapia , Adulto , Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Tratamento de Emergência , Exsanguinação/etiologia , Exsanguinação/mortalidade , Extremidades/lesões , Hemorragia/etiologia , Hemorragia/mortalidade , Humanos , Masculino , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/complicações , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidadeRESUMO
ABSTRACT Introduction: extremity tourniquet (TQ) use has increased in the civilian setting; the beneficial results observed in the military has influenced acceptance by EMS and bystanders. This review aimed to analyze extremity TQ types used in the civilian setting, injury site, indications, and complications. Methods: a systematic review was conducted based on original articles published in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane following PRISMA guidelines from 2010 to 2019. Data extraction focused on extremity TQ use for hemorrhage control in the civilian setting, demographic data, study type and duration, mechanism of injury, indications for use, injury site, TQ type, TQ time, and complications. Results: of the 1384 articles identified, 14 were selected for review with a total of 3912 civilian victims with extremity hemorrhage and 3522 extremity TQ placements analyzed. The majority of TQs were applied to male (79%) patients, with blunt or penetrating trauma. Among the indications for TQ use were hemorrhagic shock, suspicion of vascular injuries, continued bleeding, and partial or complete traumatic amputations. Upper extremity application was the most common TQ application site (56%), nearly all applied to a single extremity (99%), and only 0,6% required both upper and lower extremity applications. 80% of the applied TQs were commercial devices, and 20% improvised. Conclusions: TQ use in the civilian setting is associated with trauma-related injuries. Most are single-site TQs applied for the most part to male adults with upper extremity injury. Commercial TQs are more commonly employed, time in an urban setting is under 1 hour, with few complications described.
RESUMO Introdução: o uso de torniquete em extremidades (TQ) aumentou no ambiente civil; os resultados benéficos observados nas forças armadas influenciaram a aceitação por equipes de pré-hospitalar (PH) assim como pela população leiga. Esta revisão teve como objetivo analisar os tipos de TQ de extremidades usados em ambiente civil, local da lesão, indicações e complicações. Métodos: revisão sistemática foi conduzida com base em artigos originais publicados no PubMed, Embase e Cochrane seguindo as diretrizes do PRISMA de 2010 a 2019. Extração de dados focada no uso de TQ de extremidade para controle de hemorragia em ambiente civil, dados demográficos, tipo de estudo e duração, mecanismo de lesão, indicações de uso, local da lesão, tipo de TQ, tempo de TQ e complicações. Resultados: dos 1.384 artigos identificados, 14 foram selecionados para revisão com total de 3.912 vítimas civis com hemorragia nas extremidades e 3.522 colocações de extremidades TQ analisadas. A maioria foi aplicado em pacientes do sexo masculino (79%), com trauma contuso ou penetrante. Entre as indicações estavam choque hemorrágico, suspeita de lesões vasculares, sangramento contínuo e amputações traumáticas parciais ou completas. A aplicação na extremidade superior foi o local de aplicação mais comum (56%), quase todos aplicados a uma única extremidade (99%), e apenas 0,6% requereram aplicações nas extremidades superior e inferior. 80% dos TQs aplicados eram dispositivos comerciais e 20% improvisados. Conclusões: o uso de TQ em ambientes civis está associado a traumas. Os TQs comerciais são mais utilizados, com tempo menor que uma hora de uso e poucas complicações.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Torniquetes/estatística & dados numéricos , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/terapia , Exsanguinação/prevenção & controle , Hemorragia/prevenção & controle , Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Tratamento de Emergência , Extremidades/lesões , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/complicações , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Exsanguinação/etiologia , Exsanguinação/mortalidade , Hemorragia/etiologia , Hemorragia/mortalidadeRESUMO
PURPOSE: Peri-operative major arterial haemorrhage after revision total hip arthroplasty (RTHA) is an odd but limb- and life-threatening complication. In this retrospective analysis, we sought to determine the prevalence of such injuries requiring selective catheter embolization or bypass after RTHA and to evaluate the associated mortality rate. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2016, 2524 RTHAs were performed at a high-volume centre (1031 one-stage revisions, 1370 two-stage revisions and 123 resection arthroplasties). Throughout this period, nine patients presented with signs of persistent bleeding unaddressed during index surgery (9/2524; 0.35%), causing haemodynamic instability. All patients underwent angiographic exploration within the first 24 post-operative hours. Angiography evidenced four cases of bleeding pseudoaneurysms (three of them related to the common femoral artery and one to the medial circumflex femoral artery) and five cases of direct lacerations (one case in the inferior epigastric artery, one in the hypogastric artery, one in the external iliac artery, one in the popliteal artery and another in the superior gluteal artery). RESULTS: Six cases underwent selective percutaneous angiographic embolization with gelatin microspheres, obtaining immediate haemodynamic stabilization; whereas three cases required a further bypass surgery with synthetic graft. Of the former group, four patients had an uneventful evolution, while two died at a mean of 49 days after surgery due to multi-organ failure (MOF). Two cases of the bypass group died because of MOF at a mean of 22 days. Overall mortality rate was 44%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall risk of arterial injury associated with RTHA was low. However, recognition of such a complication is imperative since it was associated with a high mortality rate.
Assuntos
Artroplastia de Quadril/efeitos adversos , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/diagnóstico , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/terapia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Angiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Reoperação , Estudos Retrospectivos , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/etiologia , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidadeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Temporary intravascular shunts (TIVSs) are commonly used as a damagecontrol procedure in trauma settings. Currently, there is scarce literature in the civilian field, and what there is is limited to large trauma centers with multiple resources. Therefore, we aimed to describe TIVS usage, and the outcomes of that usage, at Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a case series conducted from 2009 to 2013 with 32 patients who suffered vascular trauma, of which 13 needed TIVSs. Data related to age, trauma mechanism, injured vessel, type of shunt, Glasgow Coma Scale, vital signs, and mortality were collected. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics. This protocol was approved by the IRB of the Medical Sciences Campus. RESULTS: The most frequent mechanism of injury was a gunshot (11/13; 84.6%). The most commonly injured vessel was the superficial femoral artery. Indwelling time ranged from 6 to 96 hours. Only 2 of the 13 (15.4%) patients with shunts reported thrombosis. Furthermore, we performed 4 (30.7% of the patients) prophylactic fasciotomies and 4 (30.7% of the patients) amputations; 4 of the 13 (30.7%) patients died from unrelated causes. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with those in the literature, which supports our contention that a TIVS can be an effective component of damage-control vascular surgery and can, in both military and civilian settings, aid in extremity amputation prevention. Furthermore, it has been established that a TIVS can be fashioned from any available hollow tube. However, further research is needed to evaluate the safety of an improvised catheter of this nature.
Assuntos
Amputação Cirúrgica/estatística & dados numéricos , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Vasculares/métodos , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/cirurgia , Ferimentos por Arma de Fogo/cirurgia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fasciotomia/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Escala de Coma de Glasgow , Humanos , Masculino , Porto Rico , Fatores de Tempo , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/patologia , Ferimentos por Arma de Fogo/epidemiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the epidemiological data of patients operated on due to vascular trauma at a referral hospital in Pará state, to determine the variables that increase the risk of death, and to make a comparative analysis with the results previously published by the same institution. METHODS: an analytical retrospective study was performed through data collection from patients operated due to vascular injuries, between March 2013 and March 2017. Demographic and epidemiological data, such as the mechanism and topography of the lesion, distance between the trauma site and the hospital, and type of treatment and complications, were analyzed. Multivariate analysis and logistic regression studies were performed, to evaluate significant dependence between some variables and death occurrence. RESULTS: two hundred and eighty eight patients with 430 lesions were studied; 92.7% were male, 49.7% were between 25 and 49 years old; 47.2% of all injuries were caused by firearm projectiles; 47.2% of the lesions were located in the upper limbs, 42.7% in the lower limbs, 8% in the cervical region, 3.1% in the thoracic region, and 0.7% in the abdominal region; 52.8% of the patients were hospitalized for seven days or less. Amputation was required in 6.9% of patients and there was mortality in 7.93% of the cases. CONCLUSION: distances greater than 200km were associated with prolonged hospitalization and greater probability of limb amputation. Significant correlation between death occurrence and arterial injury, vascular injury in the cervical region, and vascular injury in the thoracic region was found.
OBJETIVO: avaliar dados epidemiológicos dos pacientes operados por trauma vascular em hospital de referência para traumatismos vasculares do Estado do Pará, determinar as variáveis que aumentam o risco de óbito e fazer uma análise comparativa com os resultados previamente publicados pela mesma instituição. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo analítico realizado através da coleta de dados de pacientes operados por lesões vasculares, entre março de 2013 e março de 2017. Foram analisados dados demográficos e epidemiológicos, como o mecanismo e topografia da lesão, distância entre o local do trauma e o hospital, tipo de tratamento e complicações. Foi feito ainda o estudo de uma matriz de correlação com regressão logística entre as variáveis e a ocorrência de óbito. RESULTADOS: foram estudados 288 pacientes, com 430 lesões; 92,7% era do sexo masculino, 49,7% entre 25 e 49 anos de idade; 47,2% das lesões foi ocasionada por projéteis de arma de fogo; 47,2% das lesões situava-se nos membros superiores, 42,7% nos membros inferiores, 8% em região cervical, 3,1% torácicas e 0,7% abdominais; 52,8% dos pacientes teve hospitalização por sete dias ou menos. Amputação foi necessária em 6,9% e a mortalidade foi 7,93%. CONCLUSÃO: distâncias superiores a 200km foram associadas à internação prolongada e maior probabilidade de amputação de membros. Foi encontrada correlação significativa entre a ocorrência de óbito e o fato de haver lesão arterial, lesão vascular na topografia cervical e lesão vascular na topografia torácica.
Assuntos
Artérias/lesões , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Veias/lesões , Adulto , Amputação Cirúrgica , Brasil/epidemiologia , Feminino , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Distribuição por Sexo , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/classificação , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/etiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The traditional approach to stable blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) endorsed by the Society for Vascular Surgery is early (<24 hours) thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Recently, some studies have shown improved mortality in stable BTAI patients repaired in a delayed manner (≥24 hours). However, the indications for use of delayed TEVAR for BTAI are not well characterized, and its overall impact on the patient's survival remains poorly understood. We sought to determine whether delayed TEVAR is associated with a decrease in mortality compared with early TEVAR in this population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with BTAI (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis code 901.0) who underwent TEVAR (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision procedure code 39.73) from 2009 to 2013 using the National Sample Program data set. Missing physiologic data were imputed using chained multiple imputation. Patients were parsed into groups based on the timing of TEVAR (early, <24 hours, vs delayed, ≥24 hours). The χ2, Mann-Whitney, and Fisher exact tests were used to compare baseline characteristics and outcomes of interest between groups. Multivariable logistic regression for mortality was performed that included all variables significant at P ≤ .2 in univariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2045 adult patients with BTAI were identified, of whom 534 (26%) underwent TEVAR. Patients with missing data on TEVAR timing were excluded (n = 27), leaving a total of 507 patients for analysis (75% male; 69% white; median age, 40 years [interquartile range, 27-56 years]; median Injury Severity Score [ISS], 34 [interquartile range, 26-41]). Of these, 378 patients underwent early TEVAR and 129 underwent delayed TEVAR. The two groups were similar with regard to age, sex, race, ISS, and presenting physiology. Mortality was 11.9% in the early TEVAR group vs 5.4% in the delayed group, with the early group displaying a higher odds of death (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-5.36; P = .042). After adjustment for age, ISS, and admission physiology, the association between early TEVAR and mortality was preserved (adjusted odds ratio, 2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.67; P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with current Society for Vascular Surgery recommendations, more BTAI patients underwent early TEVAR than delayed TEVAR during the study period. However, delayed TEVAR was associated with significantly reduced mortality in this population. Together, these findings support a need for critical appraisal and clarification of existing practice guidelines in management of BTAI. Future studies should seek to understand this survival disparity and to determine optimal selection of patients for early vs delayed TEVAR.
Assuntos
Aorta Torácica/cirurgia , Implante de Prótese Vascular/mortalidade , Procedimentos Endovasculares/mortalidade , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Traumatismos Torácicos/cirurgia , Tempo para o Tratamento , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/cirurgia , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/cirurgia , Idoso , Aorta Torácica/diagnóstico por imagem , Aorta Torácica/lesões , Implante de Prótese Vascular/efeitos adversos , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Bases de Dados Factuais , Procedimentos Endovasculares/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Escala de Gravidade do Ferimento , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Razão de Chances , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Traumatismos Torácicos/diagnóstico por imagem , Traumatismos Torácicos/mortalidade , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/diagnóstico por imagem , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/diagnóstico por imagem , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/mortalidadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The endovascular management of arterial injuries has resulted in reduced operating time, blood loss, hospital mortality, lower incidence of sepsis, and decrease in mortality rates. For penetrating trauma, however, the benefits of endovascular therapy are questionable. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained by retrospective analysis of electronic medical records. All patients with vascular trauma seeking care at our institution from January 2010 to December 2015 were reviewed. A total of 223 vascular trauma patients were enrolled. Of these, 18 patients (8 %) were treated with endovascular techniques. The data related to clinical presentation, patient characteristics, technical aspects of the treatment, and follow-up were analysed. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 35.4 ± 17.8 years, 94 % were male. The mean injury severity score was 10.4 ± 2.5. The most commonly observed trauma mechanism was a gunshot in 10 cases (55 %), followed by lesions provoked by arterial catheter misplacement in five cases (27 %), and stab wounds in three cases (16.6 %). The main injury site was the subclavian artery, accounting for eight cases (44 %), followed by the superficial femoral artery and the tibiofibular trunk in two cases, respectively (18 %). The anterior tibial, fibular artery, axillary, common carotid, superior mesenteric, and profunda femoris were each affected once. Arteriovenous fistula was detected in nine cases (50 %), pseudoaneurysms in nine cases (50 %), and short occlusion in two cases (11 %). The mean follow-up duration was 753 days. The primary patency rate was 92.3 and 61.5 % after one and two years, respectively. The survival rate was 94.4 % after one and two years. Infection of the stents or limb amputations were not identified at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular treatment of penetrating arterial injuries with covered stents is feasible. However, the criteria used to choose the best method must be individualized.
Assuntos
Artérias/cirurgia , Implante de Prótese Vascular/instrumentação , Prótese Vascular , Procedimentos Endovasculares/instrumentação , Stents , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/cirurgia , Ferimentos Penetrantes/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Artérias/diagnóstico por imagem , Artérias/lesões , Implante de Prótese Vascular/efeitos adversos , Implante de Prótese Vascular/mortalidade , Registros Eletrônicos de Saúde , Procedimentos Endovasculares/efeitos adversos , Procedimentos Endovasculares/mortalidade , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Escala de Gravidade do Ferimento , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Desenho de Prótese , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/diagnóstico por imagem , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Ferimentos Penetrantes/diagnóstico por imagem , Ferimentos Penetrantes/mortalidade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar dados epidemiológicos dos pacientes operados por trauma vascular em hospital de referência para traumatismos vasculares do Estado do Pará, determinar as variáveis que aumentam o risco de óbito e fazer uma análise comparativa com os resultados previamente publicados pela mesma instituição. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo analítico realizado através da coleta de dados de pacientes operados por lesões vasculares, entre março de 2013 e março de 2017. Foram analisados dados demográficos e epidemiológicos, como o mecanismo e topografia da lesão, distância entre o local do trauma e o hospital, tipo de tratamento e complicações. Foi feito ainda o estudo de uma matriz de correlação com regressão logística entre as variáveis e a ocorrência de óbito. Resultados: foram estudados 288 pacientes, com 430 lesões; 92,7% era do sexo masculino, 49,7% entre 25 e 49 anos de idade; 47,2% das lesões foi ocasionada por projéteis de arma de fogo; 47,2% das lesões situava-se nos membros superiores, 42,7% nos membros inferiores, 8% em região cervical, 3,1% torácicas e 0,7% abdominais; 52,8% dos pacientes teve hospitalização por sete dias ou menos. Amputação foi necessária em 6,9% e a mortalidade foi 7,93%. Conclusão: distâncias superiores a 200km foram associadas à internação prolongada e maior probabilidade de amputação de membros. Foi encontrada correlação significativa entre a ocorrência de óbito e o fato de haver lesão arterial, lesão vascular na topografia cervical e lesão vascular na topografia torácica.
ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the epidemiological data of patients operated on due to vascular trauma at a referral hospital in Pará state, to determine the variables that increase the risk of death, and to make a comparative analysis with the results previously published by the same institution. Methods: an analytical retrospective study was performed through data collection from patients operated due to vascular injuries, between March 2013 and March 2017. Demographic and epidemiological data, such as the mechanism and topography of the lesion, distance between the trauma site and the hospital, and type of treatment and complications, were analyzed. Multivariate analysis and logistic regression studies were performed, to evaluate significant dependence between some variables and death occurrence. Results: two hundred and eighty eight patients with 430 lesions were studied; 92.7% were male, 49.7% were between 25 and 49 years old; 47.2% of all injuries were caused by firearm projectiles; 47.2% of the lesions were located in the upper limbs, 42.7% in the lower limbs, 8% in the cervical region, 3.1% in the thoracic region, and 0.7% in the abdominal region; 52.8% of the patients were hospitalized for seven days or less. Amputation was required in 6.9% of patients and there was mortality in 7.93% of the cases. Conclusion: distances greater than 200km were associated with prolonged hospitalization and greater probability of limb amputation. Significant correlation between death occurrence and arterial injury, vascular injury in the cervical region, and vascular injury in the thoracic region was found.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Artérias/lesões , Veias/lesões , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/mortalidade , Brasil/epidemiologia , Incidência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Distribuição por Sexo , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/classificação , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/etiologia , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Amputação Cirúrgica , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
INTRODUCTION Trinidad and Tobago is a trans-shipment point for the illegal trade of drugs, arms and ammunition and, as such, has a high incidence of gang-related warfare and drug-related crimes. This has led to a high incidence of gunshot and stab wounds, with associated major vascular injuries. We describe our management strategies learned from a decade of vascular trauma experience. METHODS A retrospective analysis of age, gender, type of trauma, vessel injured, procedure and outcome for all cases of vascular trauma between 2006 and 2015 at two surgical units in Trinidad and Tobago. RESULTS There were 198 vascular trauma cases (232 procedures), involving 159 (80%) males at a mean age of 33 years. Gunshots accounted for 103 (52%) cases, followed by stabs/chops (n=50; 25%) and lacerations (n=15; 8%). The most commonly injured vessels were the radial/ulnar arteries (n=39; 20%) and the superficial femoral artery (n=37; 19%). There were seven pseudoaneurysms and three traumatic arteriovenous fistulae. Repair techniques included primary (n=82; 35%), reversed vein (n=63; 27%), polytetrafluoroethylene (n=58; 25%), oversew (n=24; 10%) and endovascular (n=5; 2%) techniques. There were eight (4%) secondary amputations and eight (4%) deaths. CONCLUSIONS Major vascular trauma causes significant morbidity and mortality in Trinidad and Tobago, with the majority of cases due to gunshot injuries secondary to gang-related warfare and civilian violence. We compare our experience with that in the literature on the epidemiology and management of vascular trauma.