Penetrating injury to the great vessels - Case reviews and management approaches for West Indian surgeons

Penetrating injury to the great vessels in the thorax is an increasingly co mmon and alarming clinical scenario in the West Indies, and in Jamaica in p articular. The management of these often life-threatening injuries involves careful surgical planning and prompt operation, with close adherence to th e principles of adequate pre-operative stabilization and investigations, an d intra-operative exposure and repair. While this may be more easily accomp lished in tertiary care centres, the geographical realities of the West Ind ies require that every surgeon be familiar with these techniques. A report of the management of some recent cases is followed by a review of the subje ct and recommended treatment strategies are outlined.