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Combat Vascular Trauma Management for the General Surgeon

  • The Military Perspective (MJ Martin and M Schreiber, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Trauma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review focuses on the initial management and stabilization of complex vascular injuries for the general surgeon within the combat zone.

Recent Findings

Recent conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria demonstrate that general surgeons are responsible for the initial surgical management of combat-related vascular trauma in damage control scenarios. These injuries display a more complex injury pattern and often require different management strategies than seen in civilian trauma.

Summary

Vascular trauma in combat settings is often accompanied by a multitude of life- and limb-threatening injuries. Definitive repair operations are often deferred for initial damage control surgery and resuscitation. Resultant strategies to restore perfusion and control bleeding are determined by the patient’s underlying physiology and frequently require the use of vascular shunts, ligation, primary anastomosis, or interposition grafting. While general surgeons in the combat zone are not typically responsible for definitive repair during initial damage control surgery, proper initial surgical management in the far-forward setting with an intimate understanding of future repair strategies remains critical aspects in assuring optimal definitive treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Daniel Lammers

  2. Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Service, Scripps Mercy Medical Center, 550 Washington Street, Suite 641, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA

    Matthew J. Martin

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Correspondence to Matthew J. Martin.

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The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views or policies of the Madigan Army Medical Center, the Scripps Mercy Medical Center, or the Department of Defense.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on The Military Perspective

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Lammers, D., Martin, M.J. Combat Vascular Trauma Management for the General Surgeon. Curr Trauma Rep 5, 107–118 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40719-019-00171-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40719-019-00171-9

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