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Non-iatrogenic civilian vascular trauma in a well-defined geographical region in Finland

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence, treatment and outcome of vascular trauma in a well-defined geographical region in Finland.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients admitted to Tampere University Hospital (TAUH), Pirkanmaa, Finland, due to vascular trauma between January 2006 and December 2010. Data regarding trauma mechanism, anatomical location, treatment, and short-term outcome were collected from patients’ files and vascular register.

Results

Altogether, 143 non-iatrogenic vascular traumas occurred during the study period resulting in an annual trauma incidence of 5.8/100,000/year in the TAUH region. The majority of the injuries were located in the upper extremities (N = 83, 58 %). Penetrating injuries comprised 58 % (83 patients) of all vascular trauma admissions and were significantly more common among men compared to women (83 and 17 %, respectively). The majority (N = 93, 65 %) of the injuries were treated surgically, while in 15 (11 %) patients the trauma was resolved by endovascular means. The remaining 35 (24 %) patients were successfully managed conservatively, i.e., by observation or wound exploration only without the need for later (30-day) vascular repair. Two out of 17 patients (12 %) with lower extremity vascular trauma required major amputation. Procedure-related complications occurred in five patients. In-hospital and 30-day mortality was zero.

Conclusions

This paper demonstrates that the incidence of non-iatrogenic civilian vascular trauma in the Pirkanmaa region is low and mainly caused by penetrating injury. Further, the majority of vascular traumas are still treated surgically. In general, the short-term survival of patients who survive the initial trauma is good.

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Conflict of interest

Rikumatti Pöyhönen, Velipekka Suominen, Ilkka Uurto and Juha Salenius declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

Owing to the registry-based nature of the study, an approval by an ethical committee was not applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere University Medical School, Tampere, Finland

    R. Pöyhönen & J. Salenius

  2. Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, 33521, Tampere, Finland

    V. Suominen, I. Uurto & J. Salenius

Authors
  1. R. Pöyhönen
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  2. V. Suominen
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  3. I. Uurto
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  4. J. Salenius
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Suominen.

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Pöyhönen, R., Suominen, V., Uurto, I. et al. Non-iatrogenic civilian vascular trauma in a well-defined geographical region in Finland. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 41, 545–549 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-014-0460-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-014-0460-1

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