Pseudoaneurysms are a common finding in patients with high-velocity gunshot wounds or blast injuries to the head and neck. Most involve branches of the external carotid artery and can be treated by embolization. CTA should be performed on all patients with high-velocity gunshot wounds or in cases of blast trauma with fragmentation injuries of the head and neck.

The graft deployment path will be altered significantly in a minority of cases with the Gore Excluder endograft, but this can cause hypogastric occlusion or other problems. Anatomic shortening is predictable from morphologic features such as tortuosity, graft insertion side, and rotation. We developed an algorithm based on a tortuosity index that quantitates the risk and degree of shortening associated with endograft deployment.

In the largest review of military venous trauma in more than three decades, we found no difference in the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications between venous injuries managed by open repair vs ligation. Blast injuries of the extremities have caused most of the venous injuries. Ligation is the most common modality of treatment in combat zones. Long-term morbidity associated with venous injuries and their management will be assessed in future follow-up studies.