USE OF BLOUNT'S EPIPHYSEAL STAPLES TO CONTROL MASSIVE ILIAC VENOUS HAEMORRHAGE

Significant injuries to major veins are life-threatening events and may lead to patient exsanguination. Treatment usually consists of direct suture repair. A case in which a serious iliac venous haemorrhage was not able to be controlled with the usual surgical procedures is reported. A desperate attempt to achieve haemostasis using orthopaedic staples was successful. The simplicity of this technique makes it a useful addition to the surgeon's armamentarium when dealing with life-threatening venous haemorrhage.