DAMAGE CONTROL FOR VASCULAR INJURIES

The central issues in the operative management of vascular trauma are the maintenance of correct priorities and the need for rapid and effec tive operative maneuvers to prevent exsanguination and maintain perfus ion to distal organs. This article discusses the management of major v ascular injuries as an integral component of the ''damage control'' st rategy. The emphasis will be on vascular ''bail out'' techniques and t he operative strategies designed to maximize the patient's chance for surviving complex multiple injuries.