Cardiovascular Surgeon's Perspective of the Iatrogenic Vascular Injuries in Gynecologic Surgery

Abstract

Background: This study aims to define basic parameters and to propose certain attitudes towards the management of such patients.

Methods: Data of the 18 gynecologic surgery patients (mean age 54.4 +/- 3.2 years; range 45 to 63 years) who were intraoperatively consulted to vascular surgery for vascular trauma between January 2003 and December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had undergone a previous surgical procedure in the same surgical site.

Results: The vascular structures injured were the iliac arteries in eight patients, iliac veins in eight patients and inferior vena cava in two patients. The mean length of intensive care unit and hospital stays were 2.7 +/- 1.2 and 7.1 +/- 1.6 days, respectively. One patient died postoperatively.

Conclusion: We believe that favorable results for this potentially lethal complication can be achieved with individual management strategies tailored in accordance with certain principles.