ABDOMINAL VASCULAR INJURIES

Injuries to major abdominal arteries and veins frequently are associat ed with exsanguinating hemorrhage and visceral ischemia. Expeditious m anagement is the key to survival and good outcome. Knowledge of anatom ic relationships between viscera and vessels forms the basis for direc ted dissection, optimal exposure, and lasting repair of vessels. Altho ugh penetrating mechanism of injury remains the most common cause of t hese injuries, trauma surgeons must be familiar with patterns of blunt trauma-mediated injury to avoid the devastating consequences of delay ed management.