Outcome from traumatic injury of the portal and superior mesenteric veins

Traumatic injuries to the portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) are rare and carry a high mortality rate, and the best approach and method of repair is still subject to debate. The objective of the present study was to analyze risk factors for mortality in portal and superior mesenteric venous injuries. A retrospective analysis of 18 patients during a 5-year period was performed. Mechanism of injury, shock upon admission, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), intraoperative fluid requirements, classification of venous injury severity, and associated injuries were analyzed as potential predictors of outcome. All patients were male, 9 were victims of gunshot wounds, and 11 were in shock at the time of admission. Eight patients sustained PV, and 12 sustained SMV injuries. The great majority of patients had more than 1 associated injury and 61% had an associated vascular injury. Mortality rate correlated with injury severity. Overall mortality rate was 72%. Nonsurvivors had higher ISS than survivors (24 +/-0.4 and 20 +/-1.7, respectively; p = 0.006). Uncontrollable intraoperative hemorrhage was the cause of death in 5 of 13 patients (38.4%). Six patients died during the postoperative period from complications of prolonged shock and multiple organ failure, and 2 died of sepsis. The physiologic status upon admission, the number of associated injuries, and the severity of the vascular injury are the most important factors related to mortality in PV and SMV injuries.