Blunt Thoracic and Abdominal Vascular Trauma and Organ Injury Caused by Road Traffic Accident

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the relationship between vascular trauma and associated injuries to intra-thoracic and abdominal organs caused by traffic accidents. Design retrospective study in a university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 458 consecutive patients who were admitted with blunt thoracic and/or abdominal trauma caused by road traffic accidents between 1986 and 1999. Vascular trauma was encountered in 54 patients (12%). RESULTS: The injured vessels were located in the abdomen in 45 patients and in the chest in nine patients. Mesenteric vessels were the most frequently injured vessels (33/45) in the abdomen, while the aorta and major vessels were most frequently injured (9/9) in the chest. Injury to the large/small intestine was often associated with mesenteric vessel injury (26/27). In the 190 patients with blunt abdominal organ injury, the frequency of mesenteric vessel injury was also highest, regardless of the injured organ. Vascular reconstruction was necessary only in one of 51 patients who underwent operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the mesenteric vessels are susceptible to blunt thoracic and abdominal trauma in road traffic accidents. Vascular reconstruction may be indicated for selected patients as long as the injuries to hollow organs are assessed carefully because of their strong association with vascular injury.