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.