Temporary vascular continuity during damage control: Intraluminal shunting for proximal superior mesenteric artery injury

'Damage control' is an accepted technique for the treatment of the patient with exsanguinating injuries to the abdomen and intraoperative coagulopathy. We describe the use of an intraluminal shunt to maintain temporary vascular continuity of the superior mesenteric artery during rewarming and correction of coagulopathy in the intensive care unit following a gun shot wound to the abdomen. Successful complex reconstruction was achieved at definitive laparotomy using an autogenous vein interposition graft.