| Abstract: | Traumatic aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas may be as common in the developing and less industrialized countries as they are in the developed countries. In a 4 year period 12 cases of traumatic aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas were seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria. Nine of these resulted from civilian injuries while 3 were due to military activities. The femoral vessels were involved in 7 cases while the extracranial carotid arteries were injured in 2 cases. Gunshots accounted for 6 lesions. Metal fragments and knife stabs were responsible for 2 cases respectively. All the 3 arteriovenous fistulas involved the femoral vessels--2 superficial and one deep. The vascular lesions were assessed by arteriography in 9 cases. All but one case were treated by excision, the vessels being reconstructed in 7 cases. There was one death due to septicemia. |
