Justin Weller1, Madison Bowles2, Zara Summers3, Venu Bhamidipaty1. 1. Vascular Surgery, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. 2. Department of General Surgery, Logan Hospital, City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. 3. General Surgery, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vascular trauma is a complex and evolving area. Unlike internationally, the epidemiology of vascular trauma is not well documented in Australia; the most recent study was published in 2013. Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) is a level 1 trauma centre in Queensland, Australia. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of vascular trauma at a level 1 trauma centre, and compare these with the Australian and international literature. METHODS: All individuals who presented to GCUH between January 2014 and December 2019 with vascular injury were retrieved from the GCUH prospective trauma database. A descriptive analysis was undertaken on this cohort. RESULTS: The incidence of vascular trauma as a percentage of total trauma remained stable over the study period. The study included 5454 trauma admissions to GCUH, of which 213 sustained vascular injuries. Males were more likely to be injured and blunt trauma was more common than penetrating. Blunt trauma was associated with increased injury complexity. The mortality rate was 8.5% and 10 patients required amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of vascular injuries as a percentage of total trauma in Australia is higher than in previous studies. Vascular trauma causes significant injuries and has a higher mortality rate than general trauma.
BACKGROUND:Vascular trauma is a complex and evolving area. Unlike internationally, the epidemiology of vascular trauma is not well documented in Australia; the most recent study was published in 2013. Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) is a level 1 trauma centre in Queensland, Australia. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of vascular trauma at a level 1 trauma centre, and compare these with the Australian and international literature. METHODS: All individuals who presented to GCUH between January 2014 and December 2019 with vascular injury were retrieved from the GCUH prospective trauma database. A descriptive analysis was undertaken on this cohort. RESULTS: The incidence of vascular trauma as a percentage of total trauma remained stable over the study period. The study included 5454 trauma admissions to GCUH, of which 213 sustained vascular injuries. Males were more likely to be injured and blunt trauma was more common than penetrating. Blunt trauma was associated with increased injury complexity. The mortality rate was 8.5% and 10 patients required amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of vascular injuries as a percentage of total trauma in Australia is higher than in previous studies. Vascular trauma causes significant injuries and has a higher mortality rate than general trauma.