Editorial

Endovascular Grafting as a Complement to Open Surgery Treatment for Axillary and Subclavian Vascular Injuries

Authors: Konstantinos A. Filis, MD

Abstract

The most important step in evaluating a patient with upper extremity vascular trauma is the physical examination. Physical signs may be hard or soft. Hard signs include severe hemorrhage, expanding hematoma, arterial bruit, palpable thrill, or findings of acute ischemia. Soft signs include small nonexpanding hematoma, ipsilateral neurologic deficit or proximity of penetrating trauma to major vascular structures. Different anatomic types of arterial trauma include rupture of the arterial wall, intimal tear formation, dissection, pseudoaneurysm or arteriovenous fistula formation. Less frequent types of injury include compression with contusion, avulsion, and complete arterial transection.

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