Pediatric vascular trauma in Manaus, Amazon - Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the incidence of pediatric vascular injuries in patients treated at the Emergency Room of the Eastern Children's Hospital, in Manaus. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of pediatric patients who suffered vascular injuries treated between February 2001 to February 2012. Results: we studied 71 patients, predominantly male (78.87%), with a mean age of 7.63 years. The predominant mechanism of injury was stab wound in 27 patients (38.03%). The average hospital stay was 10.18 days; 16 patients required care in intensive care unit, with average stay of 8.81 days. The main injuries occurred in the extremities, the upper limb being the most affected, with lesions of the ulnar artery in 13 (15.66%) and radial in 10 (12.04%). The mostly applied procedure was vascular exploration 35 (32.4%). Complications occurred in nine patients (12.68%). Mortality was 1.4%, in one patient with a lesion of the common iliac vein and the inferior vena cava due fall from height. Conclusion: pediatric vascular injury occurred predominantly in the extremities. The dimensions of the injured vessels made surgical correction more complex and increased complication rates, particularly amputations.