Trauma vascular en extremidades: enfoque diagnóstico y terapéutico en urgencias

Over the years, vascular injury in extremities has been an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Because of the physiopathology of these injuries, it is known that they produce systemic effects due to the hemorrhagic shock and local effects due to tissue ischemia. Treatment begins from the first contact, whether by physicians or pre-hospital attention personnel, and the setting can range anywhere from an area of armed conflict to a public area to a hospital. Regardless of these variables, the priority will always be hemorrhage control. This article exposes key elements for diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of vascular injury in extremities including early use of tourniquets, clinical diagnosis, images and damage control resuscitation. Thus, adequate identification and treatment of patients with vascular injury allows us to salvage lives and limbs.