Acta chirurgica Scandinavica
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Two hundred patients who consecutively underwent abdominal vascular surgery were retrospectively studied with regard to early (less than 30 days) postoperative complications. The mortality was 4% after elective surgery and 30% after emergency surgery, which was chiefly for aortic aneurysm. ⋯ Quantitatively, however (length of hospital stay), the foremost complications were local--haematoma, lymph fistula and necrosis in the incisions, especially in the groins. Against this background, the importance of scrupulous technique in vascular surgery is stressed.
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Fourteen cases of injury to the thoracic aorta treated in 1959-1981 are reviewed. Acute rupture was present in nine patients and chronic post-traumatic aneurysm in five. Most of the patients had other, associated injuries, and physical signs of the aortic injury were often scanty. ⋯ The most recent operations were performed with the aid of a TDMAC (Gott) shunt, which makes aortic repair safe and simple. Because aortic trauma often is accompanied by other, severe injuries which make transportation of the patient risky, and so as not to delay operation, the aortic lesions should be repaired at general surgical units. If necessary, a thoracic surgeon should be brought to the hospital.