Use of ipsilateral superficial femoral vein for common femoral vein reconstruction after trauma: A useful approach in selected cases.

The optimal management of complex proximal lower extremity vein injuries remains controversial. Ligation can be tolerated but is sometimes complicated by venous hypertension and possible limb loss. At the same time, the relatively large size of these proximal veins does not lend itself very well to the use of simple saphenous vein grafts, in cases when simple venorrhaphy is not feasible. We describe a case where the ipsilateral superficial femoral vein (SFV) was used as an interposition graft for repair of a complex gunshot induced common femoral vein (CFV) injury. Initial ligation was not tolerated clinically. This method of common femoral vein repair offers a durable autologous conduit that is less time consuming to perform than a panel or spiral saphenous vein graft.