Peripheral vascular injury-related deaths.

BACKGROUND Peripheral vascular injuries are frequently encountered in lethal and nonlethal trauma. Although significant improvements in treatment have been achieved, such injuries are still important causes of mortality. METHODS In this study, the records of 6769 autopsies performed between 1996 and 2006 at the Council of Forensic Medicine Bursa Group Chairmanship Morgue Department were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS The 63 cases (0.9%) who were determined to have died due to vascular injury were included in this study. Fifty-seven cases (90.5%) were men (mean age: 36 years); 58.7% of the injuries were due to stab wounds. The femoral artery and vein were the most frequently injured vessels. The origin was a homicide in 85.7% of the cases. In 25% of the cases, blood alcohol levels were between 44 and 256 mg/dL. CONCLUSION The availability of experienced surgical teams and effective prehospital emergency care are vital for decreasing the mortality due to extremity vascular injuries. In the autopsy of a patient who died primarily due to extremity vascular injury, the injured vessel, numbers of injuries and of lethal injuries, and locations and sides of the injuries shed light on the possible presence of intention.