Survival Following a Gunshot Wound of the Abdominal Aorta and Inferior Vena Cava

Abstract

A case with survival following a point-blank 32 caliber gunshot wound of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava is presented. The patient, a young male, also had multiple other abdominal injuries. A Dacron graft was used in the aorta, lateral suture in the vena cava, other injuries were repaired, and antibiotic treatment and irrigation performed. Packed red blood cells, Ringer's lactate, Plasmanate®, and nutritional support with medium chain triglycerides and ketones by mouth and amino acids by IV were given.