Reappraisal of low-velocity gunshot wounds of the aorta and inferior vena cava in civilian practice.
Eighteen low-velocity gunshot wounds of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava were analyzed. Injury to the aorta and inferior vena cava occurred in 9.2% of all penetrating abdominal injuries due to gunshot wounds in our series. The mortality rate was 33% for the suprarenal and 25% for the infrarenal inferior vena cava, 50% for the infrarenal aorta, 100% for the suprarenal aorta and for the combined injuries. Control of active bleeding is more closely related to survival than any other single factor.
D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000293:injuries*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*