Interventional management of peripheral vascular injuries From the exclusion indication to the procedure of first choice

Background Approximately one third of all traumatic peripheral artery injuries affect the upper extremities, while two thirds involve the arteries of the lower extremities. Historically, these injuries were treated by open surgical repair. Nowadays, interventional treatment, such as embolization or stent grafting are increasingly used to treat peripheral artery injuries. Objective Determination of the current state of interventional treatment options for injuries of peripheral arteries. Material and methods Selective literature review on the current state of interventional management of peripheral artery injuries. Results Although scarce, the available data confirm the efficacy of interventional techniques for managing peripheral artery injuries; however, despite improvements in treatment techniques and interventional devices, not all patients are equally well suited for endovascular or open surgical treatment. Consequently, a multidisciplinary decision on the best treatment has to be made on a case by case basis. Conclusion According to the promising clinical data, interventional treatment should be considered more often. Diagnostic algorithms need to be adapted accordingly.