ABSTRACT
A paucity of good quality evidence exists in the literature concerning the management of
venous trauma. Most available information arises from retrospective case-control or cohort
studies, and of course expert opinion. Considerable heterogeneity is seen within and between
series in the population, clinical characteristics, associated factors, mechanism and extent of
injury, anatomical distribution, operative management, and clinical outcome in these patients.
This somewhat limits generalizations to other patient populations. Therefore, in this chapter
we shall endeavor to present the best quality available information, qualified by our own
experience with the management of civilian vascular trauma over 25 years of urban conflict in
Northern Ireland, at the Royal Victoria Hospital (1).
