Trends in civilian vascular trauma during 30 years. A Swedish perspective.

Vascular injuries operated on during a 30-year period (1955-1984) were analyzed. There has been significant increase of such injuries, particularly the iatrogenic types. The total incidence per 100,000 population and year rose from 11.0 to 26.6. Various angiographic and catheterization techniques were responsible for the iatrogenic increase. The noniatrogenic vascular injuries not infrequently were part of multiple trauma, with fractures and a variety of penetrating wounds. Numerous operative techniques were used, increasingly with reconstructive surgery. The mortality rate did not change in the study period, but the rate of amputations and of various long-term sequelae diminished.