Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2003, 200 (2)

Case Report

A Case of Successfully Treated Inferior Vena Cava Injury

MEHMET OZKOKELI, MEHMET ATES, UMIT TOPALOGLU¹ and TOLGA MUFTUOGLU¹

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Prof. Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey
¹Department of IV. General Surgery Clinic, Haydarpasa Numune Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the most frequently injured retroperitoneal vascular structure. Despite the improvements in preoperative care and operation techniques, mortality rates for inferior vena cava injuries are still high due to delayed or inadequate volume recussitation, difficulty of diagnosis and technical problems in repair. A 1.5-cm sized wound at the IVC was primarly repaired by suturing. Because of appropriate and successful perioperative blood and fluid resuscitation, the patient was able to survive. We report a case of successfully treated IVC injury caused by a gunshot.

keywords —— inferior vena cava injury; gunshot wounds; retroperitoneal

© 2003 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2003, 200, 99-101

Address for reprints: Mehmet ATES, Merdivenkoy Mah. Sairarsi Cad. Emincinarpasa Sok. No: 6 Dicle Apt. D: 24 34732 Goztepe/Kadikoy-Istanbul, Turkey.

e-mail: drmates@yahoo.com