Vascular surgery on the modern battlefield.

Management of traumatic vascular injury can offer special challenges even to experienced surgeons who are functioning in resource-limited situations. Lessons learned from past conflicts have advanced the practice of vascular trauma surgery on the battlefield and in urban trauma centers. Current conflicts provide a fresh opportunity to examine those recent advancements that have improved surgical capability and as a result have changed the practice of vascular surgery on the modern battlefield. This article provides an overview of the contemporary management of vascular injuries in combat casualties during recent United States military operations.