Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.
2008 Feb;41(1):124-127.
Retrohepatic Inferior Vena Cava Injury by Gunshot: A case report
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea. jokim@gnah.co.kr
- 2Department of Surgery, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
- 3Department of Anesthesiology, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
Abstract
- Injury to the inferior vena cava (IVC) is associated with a high mortality rate, and little progress has been made for improving the treatment for this since the 1970s. Injury to the retrohepatic IVC, in particular, has been associated with up to a 75% mortality rate due to the difficulty in gaining adequate exposure and controlling the bleeding. Both the severity of injury and anatomic accessibility has been directly correlated with survival in IVC injury. We have experienced a patient with retrohepatic IVC that was ruptured by a penetrating gunshot injury and we managed to save this patient's life.
