Outcome of complex venous reconstructions in patients with trauma

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 398 - 404
• Main Authors: Pappas, Peter J., Haser, Paul B., Teehan, Edwin P., Noel, Audra A., Silva, Michael B., Jamil, Zafar, Swan, Kenneth G., Padberg, Frank T., Hobson, Robert W.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-02-1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Femoral Vein - injuries; Femoral Vein - surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iliac Vein - injuries; Iliac Vein - surgery; Ligation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Popliteal Vein - injuries; Popliteal Vein - surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Patency; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels; Vascular Surgical Procedures - methods; Veins - transplantation; Wounds and Injuries - surgery; Human; Popliteal vein; Homograft; Cardiovascular disease; Anatomical reconstruction; Trauma; Venous disease; Vascular disease; Treatment; Surgery; Graft; Evolution; Vein; Iliac vein; Femoral vein
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1016/S0741-5214(97)70362-8

Purpose: The role of complex venous reconstructions (CVRs) in patients with major trauma remains a controversial topic. This study evaluates the patency and clinical outcome of CVRs in a major urban trauma center.
Methods: Between 1979 and 1994 the records of 92 patients with 100 injuries to the iliac, femoral, and popliteal venous system were reviewed. The incidence of edema, pulmonary embolism, and limb loss was documented in 75 men and 17 women (mean age of 27 years, range 14 to 59 years). The 30-day patencies were assessed in all patients with either impedance plethysmography (n = 16), venography (n = 40), or duplex scan (n = 36). Long-term patencies were assessed in 14 patients monitored for 0.5 to 9 years (mean 3.2 years).
Results: Mechanisms of injury consisted of 58 gunshot wounds, 23 stab wounds, 6 shotgun wounds, and 5 blunt injuries. There were 112 associated injuries, 41 of which were concomitant arterial injuries. Forty-five of the 100 venous injuries were repaired with CVRs and included 6 (13%) spiral vein grafts, 8 (18%) panel vein grafts, 8 (18%) reversed saphenous vein interposition grafts, 8 (18%) end-to-end repairs, and 15 (33%) vein patch repairs. Thirty-day patency rates for these repairs were 50%, 50%, 75%, 88%, and 87%, respectively, and an overall patency rate of 73% was observed. The remaining 55 injuries were treated with ligation (n = 27) or lateral venorrhaphy (n = 28). The cumulative 30-day patency rate for all venous repairs was 81% (59 of 73). Fourteen patients, nine of whom had CVRs, were available for long-term follow-up. In this group CVRs demonstrated a 100% patency. One patient with a spiral vein graft repair of the common femoral vein had severe reflux causing intermittent edema and mild lipodermatosclerosis. No pulmonary emboli, limb loss, or deaths were identified in patients undergoing CVRs.
Conclusion: Patients with CVRs had a 30-day patency rate of 73%. Of this group panel and spiral vein grafts were less successful, exhibiting only a 50% 30-day patency rate, whereas end-to-end and vein patch repairs were successful in 88% and 87% of cases, respectively. Our overall evaluation suggests that use of CVRs results in successful venous repair; however, the postoperative patency of interposition panel and spiral grafts suggests selective use of these techniques. (J Vasc Surg 1997;25:398-404.)