PENETRATING INJURIES OF THE ABDOMINAL INFERIOR VENA-CAVA

This is a retrospective study of 74 patients with penetrating injuries of the abdominal inferior vena cava; the cause of injury was gunshot in 91% and stabbing in 9%. Of the patients, 77% underwent lateral veno rrhaphy, 5% underwent infrarenal ligation of the inferior vena cava (I VC), and 18% died perioperatively before any caval repair could be car ried out. There was an overall perioperative mortality of 39%. Persist ent shock, the site of the venous injury, particularly in the retrohep atic position, and the number of associated vascular injuries were dir ectly related to mortality. Irrespective of the improvements in resusc itation and the various operative methods available, penetrating traum a of the abdominal IVC remains a life-threatening injury.