Endovascular treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome of the lower extremities caused by combat trauma. Clinical case

Abstract

In the course of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, gunshot shrapnel wounds of the lower extremities that result in damage to major blood vessels have become a common phenomenon. Their incidence is consistent with the general data on combat‑related vascular injuries. Vascular gunshot injuries can cause significant changes to the normal anatomy and hemodynamics of the extremity as a result of the bullet or shrapnel travelling through the wound channel. Combat trauma of the vascular bundle, either as a primary factor or in combination with other lesions, often causes a serious condition in the wounded that requires urgent surgical intervention]. Injury to the major blood vessels of the lower limbs carries the risk of critical ischemia, which can lead to higher mortality rates, poor limb recovery, and disability. This clinical case demonstrates the endovascular management of a disabling combat‑related vascular injury. The treatment involves the use of modern imaging techniques and minimally invasive surgical procedures. This case highlights the progression of the pathological process after a gunshot shrapnel wound to the soft tissues and major blood vessels. It also shows a change in the normal anatomy of the major blood vessels and the subsequent development of regional hemodynamic disorders of the lower limb after injury.

In January 2023, a 51‑year‑old male received a gunshot wound to the soft tissues of the pelvis and right lower limb, as well as a gunshot fracture of the right femur. Immediate post‑evacuation therapy included the management of life‑threatening bleeding by ligating the deep femoral artery and providing external fixation of the gunshot femur fracture. Following the healing of the wounds and the removal of the external fixation device, the injured individual experienced a progressive and notable swelling of the lower limb over a period of 3 months. Subsequently, trophic ulcers appeared on the lower leg. In September 2023, the patient was admitted to the National Military Medical Clinical Centre in Kyiv after developing clinical signs of the post‑thrombotic syndrome. However, further examination revealed the presence of an AV fistula. Consequently, a simultaneous endovascular reconstructive intervention was performed on the arteries and veins of the patient’s lower extremity.

Conclusions. A gunshot wound to the major blood vessels can contribute to pathological changes in the normal anatomical structure, resulting in arterial collateral blood circulation or narrowing of blood vessels that can lead to regional hemodynamic disorders. The clinical case exemplifies the importance of using modern imaging techniques for a comprehensive examination of the vascular system and the possibility of minimally invasive treatment for patients with gunshot injuries to the major blood vessels.