Annals of surgery
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Between January 1970 and December 1980, 65 patients sustaining 85 vascular injuries of the axillary artery and/or vein were managed at the Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, Texas. Concomitant injuries of the subclavian and/or brachial vessels were noted in 34 per cent of patients. A variety of exposure techniques was used in approaching the axillary vessels. ⋯ The ready availability of prosthetic conduits, absence of graft infection, and excellent short-term patency have made them a primary choice for axillary arterial reconstruction in our recent experience. Associated brachial plexus injury (35%) accounted for the most significant long-term morbidity. The operative mortality was 3.1%, and one patient required upper extremity amputation following failure of repeated revascularization attempts.