ABSTRACT
With advances in surgical and anesthesia techniques and the increasing complexity of
surgical patients, the management of the intensive care unit (ICU) patient population fre-
quently includes vascular injuries. As 20-30% of the population over the age of 60 suffers
from peripheral arterial disease, a significant number of vascular problems can be expected
during any ICU admission (1). In addition, complications may result from therapeutic vas-
cular interventions or the placement of indwelling arterial catheters necessary to monitor
and stabilize the critically ill patient.
