Temporary vascular shunt for damage control surgery: case report

Abstract

Background: Although rare, arterial limb injuries are cause of massive hemorrhage and consequently hypovolemic shock. Temporary vascular shunts have many benefits: not only do they allow for reperfu­sion, but they also afford time to transport a patient to a higher level of care. Methods: Case report Results: The authors present a case report of a 35-year-old man brought to the emergency department one hour after suffering a penetrating injury to the anterior right thigh. In the operative room a complete superficial femoral artery transection was detected so artery shunt was performed. In the immediate post-operative period, the patient was transferred to a specialized center where the final revascularization was accomplished by interposition of the contralateral great saphenous vein in reverse. Patient was discharged after a seven day hospital stay and follow up demonstrated viable and functional limb. Conclusions: Vascular shunt seems a good option in the early approach of arterial injuries in the absence of resources for definitive care, as it allows early revascularizations without compromising subsequent definitive revascularization after transfer to a specialized department.