title: [Treatment of penetrating injuries of neck, chest and extremities].
abstract: Penetrating injuries such as gunshot wounds have traditionally been rare in Europe, with the result that European surgeons have only limited experience in their management. Socio-economic changes in the last decade have led to an increase in the frequency of injuries of this type, partly due to the expansion of organized crime and partly because of involvement of the European military in peace-keeping missions in Europe and elsewhere in the world. The purpose of this article is to offer some guidelines in the management of extremely serious or rarely encountered injuries to the neck, chest and peripheral arteries and discuss controversies and possible future changes in their management as a result of the extensive experience of treating penetrating trauma in our hospital.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Directorate, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand -- Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Degiannis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Titius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doll
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000792:Angiography; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003415:Crime; D004630:Emergencies; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000293:injuries; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000293:injuries; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*