During the past 10 years, peripheral arteriography has taken its place in the surgeon's diagnostic armamentarium. Its worth in obliterative arterial disease and as an aid in following the results of arterial surgery is unquestioned. However, its place in the diagnosis of acute vascular injuries still needs clearer definition.
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the criteria found reliable is assessing penetrating injuries to extremities in civilian practice and to discuss the role that peripheral arteriography can play in this assessment.
Arteriography is not without hazard. It has a small complication and mortality rate associated with it. These complications have been due to reaction to the media, inadvertent injury to the injected vessel and/or its accompanying vein, and occasionally tissue necrosis due to extravasation of the media,1,2 In addition the procedure is time-consuming. In our hospital the average time for transporting a patient to the x-ray department,