Peripheral vascular injuries and their management in Accra

Background: The true incidence of vascular injuries in Ghana is not known on account of low reporting. Objective: We performed a study aimed at reviewing the pattern of injuries to peripheral vessels, and also the pattern of referral, presentation and management of these injuries at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Method: The study covered the period of January 1989 to March 2005 and involved a review of all peripheral vessel injuries referred for vascular surgical opinion.Results: Fifty two (52) patients with aged between 13- 50 years were reviewed. Penetrating trauma (82.7%) and blunt trauma (11.5%) were the commonest modes of injury. Arterial injuries (63.5%) and combined arterial and venous injuries (23.1%) were the commonest forms of injury. Brachial artery injuries were the commonest injuries seen. Associated nerve injuries occurred in 25% of patients most of whom also had brachial artery injuries. Late presentations of false aneurysmsand arteriovenous fistulae were seen in 40.4% patients. There were delays in referring patients (range 1 hour to 4 years). Vascular investigations like angiograms and duplex scanning were obtained in only 25.0% of patients. Vascular reconstruction was successfulin 84.6% patients and 7.7% of patients required major limb amputation and an equal number of patients died from other injuries. Conclusion: There is undue delay in referring patients with vascular injuries for intervention due to the inability of the initial attending medical personnel to recognize these injuries. Most of these injuries can be adequately treated without the use of sophisticated investigations,which are usually expensive