Vascular injuries caused by tear gas shells: surgical challenge and outcome.
BACKGROUND
Tear gas shells are used to disperse the mob during any type of street protests. Vascular injuries due to tear gas shells have not been reported. The present study was undertaken to analyse the pattern, presentation, management and outcome of vascular injury due to tear gas shells.


METHODS
Eighteen patients with vascular injury caused by tear gas shells from 1(st) Jan. 2008 to 31(st) Dec 2009 were studied. Patients with vascular injuries caused by causes other than tear gas shells were excluded from the study.


RESULTS
All patients were treated with reverse saphenous vein graft as segmental loss was less than 2.5 cm. Wound infection was the most common complication, followed by graft occlusion. Amputation rate was 16.66%. Associated nerve injury occurred in 44.44% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Tear gas shell injuries should not be taken lightly. They can cause injuries as serious as vascular injuries. Vascular injuries cased by tear gas shells require prompt revascularisation to improve limb salvage. Despite proper revascularisation, patients have significant morbidity and need proper rehabilitation in the follow ups.
Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
Mohd Lateef
ML
Wani
Ab Gani
AG
Ahangar
Gh Nabi
GN
Lone
Shyam
S
Singh
Abdul Majeed
AM
Dar
Mohd Akbar
MA
Bhat
Hakeem Zubair
HZ
Ashraf
Ifat
I
Irshad
Tear gas; saphenous vein; vascular injury