Major venous injuries and bullet wounds.

A review of the reported incidence, management and results of treatment of major vein injuries is presented and a brief account given of the mechanism of vascular damage by high-velocity bullet wounds. This paper reports 3 cases of isolated major venous injury caused by high-velocity bullets. Repair was performed in each case. Two patients survived with a good short-term clinical result. The third patient died during operation. The advantages of repairing injured veins are discussed.