View article

BACKGROUND

Drug and alcohol use complicate the presentation and management of traumatic injuries. Impaired hemodynamic recovery and host defense in substance users also predispose these patients to worse outcomes after trauma. We hypothesized that substance abuse, particularly when drugs and alcohol are combined, complicates the presentation, management, and patient outcomes following isolated traumatic peripheral vascular injury.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of patients admitted with isolated peripheral vascular injury to our Level 1 trauma center between 2006 and 2012. Demographics, presentation, substance use, resuscitation, operative management, intensive care needs, and length of hospital stay were analyzed.

RESULTS

From 257 patients admitted, 158 patients experienced isolated peripheral vascular injury. Patients were subdivided by blood alcohol level (BAL) and …