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Critical care concepts in the management of abdominal trauma.

Patients with significant abdominal trauma and polytrauma patients with less severe abdominal injuries require critical care management. The diagnostic skills used for the initial evaluation of the injured abdomen are used to determine whether celiotomy is required and to evaluate the postoperative abdomen for missed injury or early detection for complications. The critical care nurse must identify life-threatening abdominal injuries immediately and all abdominal injuries in a timely fashion through consideration of the mechanism of injury and a combination of history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. All facets of the critical care management of abdominal trauma must be familiar to the critical care nurse in order to recognize abdominal injuries and lower the frequency of preventable death after trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Gallbladder injury in abdominal trauma: analysis of 32 cases].

Gallbladder lesion is infrequent, occurring in approximately 0.5 to 8.5% of all patients with blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma. The incidence of gallbladder injury in such cases is low. This study reviewed 32 patients with gallbladder injury due to abdominal trauma over a 6-year period to determine the complications, associated injuries, and mortality rate.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Snowboarding injuries of the abdomen: comparison with skiing injuries.

A retrospective study was conducted to identify the characteristics of snowboarding injury of the abdomen in comparison with those of alpine skiing injuries. Between December 1988 and April 1997, 1579 patients were treated for snowboarding injuries and 9108 patients were treated after skiing accidents. 19 patients (1.2%) in snowboarding and 64 (0.7%) in skiing had abdominal injuries. The abdominal injury rate in snowboarders was significantly higher than that in skiers. Snowboarders with abdominal injuries were similar to skiers with respect to epidemiology but the patterns of injury in the two groups showed several distinct differences. Riding mistakes after jumping for the snowboarders (31.6%) was significantly higher than that for the skiers (0%). The main organs involved in snowboarding and skiing injuries were kidney, liver and spleen. The incidence of solitary renal injury in snowboarding (68.4%) was significantly higher than that in skiing (29.7%).

Abdominal Injuries↗

Pelvic fractures in pediatric and adult trauma patients: are they different injuries?

BACKGROUND: Many aspects of pediatric trauma are considerably different from adult trauma. Very few studies have performed comprehensive comparisons between pediatric and adult pelvic fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of pelvic fracture, the epidemiologic characteristics, type of associated abdominal injuries, and outcomes between pediatric (age </= 16 years) and adult (age > 16 years) patients. METHODS: This was a trauma registry study that included all blunt trauma admissions at a Level I trauma center during an 8-year period. The incidence and severity of pelvic fractures, associated abdominal injuries, need for blood transfusion, and mortality in the two age groups were compared with the two-sided Fisher's exact test. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for associated abdominal injuries in pelvic fractures in the two age groups. RESULTS: The incidence of pelvic fractures was 10.0% (1,450 of 14,568) in the adult group and 4.6% (95 of 2,062) in the pediatric group (p < 0.0001). In motor vehicle and pedestrian injuries, adults were twice as likely and in falls from heights > 15 ft seven times as likely as children to suffer pelvic fractures. However, age group was not a significant predictor of the severity of pelvic fracture. Only 9.5% of pediatric fractures and 8.8% of adult fractures had a pelvis Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score >/= 4. The incidence of associated abdominal injuries was high but similar in the two age groups (16.7% in adults and 13.7% in children, p = 0.48). Motor vehicle crash, pelvis AIS score >/= 4, and fall from height > 15 ft were significant predictors of associated abdominal injuries in the adult but not the pediatric group. The incidence of associated gastrointestinal injuries was similar in the two age groups (5.3% in children and 3.3% in adults, p = 0.37). The incidence of solid organ injuries was nearly identical in both groups (11.6% in children and 11.5% in adults). The need for blood transfusions and angiographic intervention was not significantly different between the two age groups. Exsanguination because of bleeding related to the pelvic fracture was responsible or possibly responsible in 42 deaths (2.9%) in the adult group and no deaths in the pediatric group. CONCLUSION: Pediatric trauma patients are significantly less likely than adults to suffer pelvic fractures, although the age group is not a significant risk factor for the severity of pelvic fracture. The incidence of associated abdominal injuries is high and similar in the two age groups. Motor vehicle crash, fall from a height, and pelvis AIS score >/= 4 were significant predictors of associated abdominal injuries in the adult but not the pediatric patients. The need for blood transfusion is similar in both groups irrespective of Injury Severity Score and pelvis AIS score. The mortality resulting from exsanguination related to pelvic fractures is very low, especially in pediatric patients.

Abdominal Injuries↗

High-velocity penetrating wounds of the gravid uterus: review of 16 years of civil war.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of selective laparotomy in pregnant women with penetrating abdominal injuries. METHODS: A retrospective survey was carried out at our center over 16 years of civil war, extending from 1975 to 1991. Fourteen pregnant women had uterine injuries secondary to high-velocity abdominal penetrating trauma. The corresponding management was evaluated carefully with respect to maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS: Two maternal deaths occurred, neither resulting solely from intra-abdominal injuries. Visceral injuries were present when the entrance of the missile was in either the upper abdomen or the back. When the entry site was anterior and below the uterine fundus, visceral injuries were absent in all six women upon surgical exploration. Perinatal deaths occurred in half of the cases and were due to maternal shock or uteroplacental or direct fetal injury. Immediate cesarean delivery was performed because of either limited surgical field exposure, fetal injury, or distress. Three patients explored were managed by delaying delivery. All later delivered vaginally with successful fetal outcomes in all three. CONCLUSION: Selective laparotomy may be considered in pregnant women with anterior penetrating abdominal trauma, as the likelihood of intra-abdominal injuries may be predicted based on the location of the penetrating wound.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Indications for computed tomography in children with blunt abdominal trauma.

This investigation was undertaken to identify clinical variables, alone or in combination, that could be used to assign children to high- and low-risk categories for intra-abdominal injury following blunt trauma. Six hundred consecutive children who were examined with computed tomography (CT) following blunt trauma were enrolled. Complete data sets were available on 375 children. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify predictor variables for the presence of abdominal injury. There were 174 children with abdominal injury detected by CT. Of these, 95 were classified as having significant injury. Indicators associated with significantly higher risk of abdominal injury included the following: more than three clinical indications given (odds likelihood ratio [OLR] = 4.60, 95% confidence interval [95% Cl] = 2.29, 9.21, p less than 0.001); gross hematuria (OLR = 5.80, 95% Cl = 2.51, 13.4, p less than 0.001); lap belt injury (OLR = 12.2, 95% Cl = 2.22, 66.8, p less than 0.01); assault or abuse as the mechanism of injury (OLR = 5.08, 95% Cl = 1.07, 24.2, p less than 0.05); abdominal tenderness (OLR = 2.73, 95% Cl = 1.296, 5.82, p less than 0.01); and Trauma Score less than or equal to 12 (OLR = 2.27, 95% Cl = 1.006, 5.13, p less than 0.01). No child with asymptomatic hematuria (n = 56), regardless of grade or neurologic impairment in the absence of abdominal findings (n = 15), had an abnormal CT examination. These data are useful as an adjunct to clinical judgment in triage when the availability of CT equipment is limited or there are competing extra-abdominal injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Stab and gunshot thoracoabdominal injuries].

The authors give an account of their experience with the treatment of punctures and gunshot injuries of the chest and abdomen in 43 patients hospitalized at the Surgical Clinic of the Third Medical Faculty, Charles University Prague 10 between 1989 and 1992. Injuries of the chest were recorded 15 times, abdominal injuries in 25 patients and concurrent injuries of the chest and abdomen in three patients. To ensure treatment of penetrating injuries the authors present an algorithm which comprises differentiated care as well as some non-interventional diagnostic methods (ultrasonography, computed tomography). Based on analysis of their own results and data in the literature, the authors recommend in casualties with penetrating chest injuries and abdominal injuries early indicated surgical revision which alone ensures adequate treatment with minimal diagnostic errors. They also draw attention to the necessity to ensure effective first aid and rapid transport of casualties to prevent the development of irreversible changes as a result of haemorrhage, as observed in a single patient who died after a piercing heart injury.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Abdominal trauma. Injury oriented management].

Successful management of abdominal trauma is characterized by efficient emergency-room work-up aimed at immediate determination of the prognosis by rational use of diagnostic techniques. The purposes of any conservative and/or surgical procedures are the preservation of organ function and low mortality and morbidity in multiply injured patients. State-of-the-art computed tomography with fast trauma scanning has become well accepted among patients with multiple trauma. Organ resections are becoming less common, except in the case of bowel injuries. The surgical treatment of hepatobiliary, splenic and large-vessel trauma is still challenging, as it involves the risk of life-threatening bleeding, while in the case of pancreatic and bowel injuries the challenge lies in the avoidance of septic complications. Interdisciplinary management of complex injuries with application of the "damage control" concept contributes to high-quality results in abdominal trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Evaluation of diagnostic peritoneal lavage in stable patients with gunshot wounds to the abdomen.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) is used to diagnose intra-abdominal injury in patients with stab wounds and blunt trauma. Because exploratory celiotomy is routinely performed on patients with gunshot wounds to the abdomen, DPL is rarely employed. However, several studies have questioned routine exploration and have drawn attention to the associated morbidity of negative celiotomy. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is an easily performed and inexpensive test that may be useful in this situation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of DPL in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal injury in hemodynamically stable patients with gunshot wounds to the abdomen. DESIGN: A prospective clinical trial. SETTING: Two urban trauma centers. PATIENTS: Patients with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and a systolic blood pressure of at least 90 mm Hg. INTERVENTIONS: Clinical predication of intra-abdominal injury in the emergency department and DPL performed in the operating room before the initiation of celiotomy. Injuries found during the celiotomy were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results of the clinical evaluation and DPL were compared with the findings of the celiotomy. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were enrolled into the study. Intra-abdominal injury was present in 32 (73%) of these patients. The senior surgery resident correctly predicted the presence of intra-abdominal injury in 36 (82%) of the patients (sensitivity = 90.0%, specificity = 58.3%, positive predictive value = 85.3%, negative predictive value = 63.6%, phi = 0.52, P < .01) in the emergency department before DPL and celiotomy were performed. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage correctly identified the presence or absence of intra-abdominal injury in 40 (91%) of the patients (positive predictive value = 96.7%, negative predictive value = 78.6%, phi = 0.79, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical judgment is highly accurate in separating patients with tangential gunshot wounds to the abdomen from those with intra-abdominal injury but may miss patients with intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is highly predictive of the presence of intra-abdominal injury. The return of gross blood on aspiration or a lavage red blood cell count greater than 10 x 10(9)/L should prompt an urgent celiotomy. Missed injuries are rare and most likely to be bowel perforations. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is an objective test that may augment clinical judgment in selecting hemodynamically stable patients with potential tangential gunshot wounds for observation and is especially useful in identifying intra-abdominal hemorrhage.

Abdomen↗

Is definitive abdominal evaluation required in blunt trauma victims undergoing urgent extra-abdominal surgery?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the utility of routine abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scanning for abdominal evaluation of blunt trauma patients before urgent extra-abdominal surgery. METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we prospectively enrolled all blunt trauma patients at least 8 years of age presenting to the emergency department of a Level 1 trauma center who were initially considered to require urgent extra-abdominal surgery within 24 hours of presentation. Patients were excluded if they had any of the following: 1) isolated extremity trauma, 2) signs or symptoms of intra-abdominal injury (including systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg; abdominal, flank, or costal margin tenderness; abdominal wall contusion or abrasion; pelvic fracture; and gross hematuria), or 3) unreliable findings on abdominal examination (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 14, paralysis, or mental retardation). Clinical data were documented on a data sheet before abdominal CT scanning. RESULTS: A total of 254 patients, with a mean (+/-SD) age of 32.3 (+/-16.1) years, were enrolled. A total of 201 patients ultimately underwent urgent extra-abdominal surgery for the following procedures: orthopedic, 182 (91%); facial, 17 (8%); laceration, 7 (3%); vascular, 6 (2%); neurosurgical, 3 (1%); urology, 2 (1%); and ophthalmology, 1 (0.4%). Three patients (1.2%; 95% confidence interval = 0.2% to 3.4%) were found to have intra-abdominal injuries. Two patients had splenic injuries that required only observation. One patient (0.4%; 95% confidence interval = 0% to 2.2%) underwent laparotomy. This patient sustained multiple injuries in a motorcycle crash, including splenic, kidney, and pancreatic injuries, and underwent a splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal CT scanning has a low yield in trauma patients whose sole indication for diagnostic abdominal evaluation is the need for general anesthesia for urgent extra-abdominal surgery. A small percentage of these patients, however, will have important intra-abdominal injuries such that further refinement of the recommendations for diagnostic study in this select population is needed.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Traumatic injuries of the pancreas: report of 65 cases].

With the aim of aiding the accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients with pancreatic injuries, we reviewed the medical records of sixty-five patients, treated for traumatic pancreatic lesions at the Department of Surgery of the University of São Paulo in the 5-year period from 1989 through 1993. Records, including operative and pathology reports, were reviewed and the location of the pancreatic injury, associated intra-abdominal injuries, type of injury, trauma scores, treatment, complications and mortality rates recorded. There were 58 male and seven female patients with a mean age of 28.3 years (range, 2-77 years). Of the 65 pancreatic injuries, 45 (69.2%) were caused by penetrating wounds and twenty by blunt trauma. The most frequent site of lesion was the head of the pancreas (38.5%). Associated injuries were found in all but five of the patients. In the 65 patients, 170 intra-abdominal injuries were found (2.6 per patient). Twenty-eight of the 65 patients (43.1%) had liver lacerations. Lacerations of major abdominal vessels (27 patients), gastric lacerations (25 patients) and colorectal lacerations (17 patients) were the next most frequent injuries. Fifteen out of twenty patients died within two days after the accident from severe concomitant injuries. Simple drainage was performed in 33 patients, distal pancreatectomy in 17 and duodenopancreatectomy in six patients. Pancreas-related complications occurred in 20 (30.7%) out of 57 patients who survived the initial operation. We concluded that the type of repair employed in our series was related to the class of injury and clinical conditions (based on trauma scores). Therefore, whenever possible, conservative management (no pancreatic resection) was employed in patients that sustained class I and II injuries and pancreatic resection in class III and IV injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗

The use of enzyme analysis of peritoneal blood in the clinical assessment of abdominal organ injury.

Seventy patients with blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma and hemoperitoneum were evaluated by the analysis of the enzyme content of peritoneal blood using automated laboratory methods. The enzyme levels in peritoneal blood were evaluated relative to the simultaneous levels in peripheral blood to identify enzyme differences in organ-related peritoneal and periheral blood. The findings in this study indicate that isolated liver injuries are associated with significant elevation of lactic dehydrogenase levels in peritoneal blood and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase levels in peritoneal and peripheral blood. A multiplicity of abdominal organ injury results in elevation of lactic dehydrogenase and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase levels in peritoneal blood. The occurrence of isolated small intestinal injury and small intestinal injury combined with other organ injury produces a significant elevation of glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase levels in peritoneal blood. The alkaline phosphatase elevation in peritoneal blood is associated with normal mean values in peripheral blood; therefore, combined alkaline phosphatase in peritoneal and peripheral blood has potential for use in the identification of small intestinal injury in patients with hemoperitoneum of traumatic origin.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Traumatic splenic injury: its management in a patient population with a high incidence of associated injury.

Nonoperative management of splenic trauma is receiving increasing support following delineation of the spleen's role in infection. Controversy regarding the proper management of this injury led us to study retrospectively 236 consecutive patients with splenic trauma. Blunt trauma occurred in the majority (161); the remainder suffered penetrating abdominal injury secondary to gunshot or stab wounds. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage was accurate in establishing splenic injury in blunt trauma (no false-positive, but three false-negative findings). Associated intra-abdominal injury occurred in 48% and 92% of patients with blunt and penetrating trauma, respectively. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is an accurate method for establishing an intra-abdominal injury and the need for abdominal exploration in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Because of the high rate of associated intra-abdominal injury in splenic trauma, nonoperative management can be expected to result in a disturbing incidence of missed intra-abdominal injury in patients with abnormal peritoneal lavage findings.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Injuries associated with splenic trauma.

Renewed interest in conservative nonoperative management of splenic trauma in children led us to review our experience with this injury in 258 patients over the past 5 1/2 years. Blunt trauma was the predominant type of injury, occurring in 241 patients: 80% of these patients had associated extra-abdominal injuries, predominantly involving the head, chest, and extremities; 59% of patients with penetrating trauma had concomitant extra-abdominal injuries, mainly of the thorax. Serious concomitant intra-abdominal injuries requiring operative therapy were found in 36.5 and 94%, respectively, of patients sustaining splenic injury from blunt and penetrating trauma. Children under the age of 16 years exhibited a similar incidence (32.6 and 100%), respectively). Renal, hepatic, diaphragmatic, intestinal, mesenteric, and vascular injuries were most frequent. The pitfall of conservative nonoperative management lies in missing these concomitant serious intra-abdominal injuries. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is most useful in defining the patients who should undergo exploratory laparotomy, therefore reducing morbidity and mortality secondary to neglected injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Analysis of 46 intra-abdominal aortic injuries from blunt trauma: case reports and literature review.

Blunt trauma causing aortic injury is infrequent and primarily involves the thoracic aorta. Abdominal aortic injury after blunt trauma is much less frequent and has a varied presentation. Within a 3-month period, our trauma unit diagnosed and treated two cases of abdominal aortic injury secondary to blunt trauma. One was a belted passenger in a motor vehicle accident, and one was secondary to a crush injury. The addition of these two cases brings the number found in the literature to 46. Reviewing these cases has emphasized the need for prompt recognition and treatment of this vascular catastrophe.

Adolescent↗

Nonoperative management of solid abdominal organ injuries from blunt trauma: impact of neurologic impairment.

The role of nonoperative management of solid abdominal organ injury from blunt trauma in neurologically impaired patients has been questioned. A statewide trauma registry was reviewed from January 1993 through December 1995 for all adult (age >12 years) patients with blunt trauma and an abdominal solid organ injury (kidney, liver, or spleen) of Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or =2. Patients with initial hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg) were excluded. Patients were stratified by Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) into normal (GCS 15), mild to moderate (GCS 8-14), and severe (GCS < or =7) impairment groups. Management was either operative or nonoperative; failure of nonoperative management was defined as requiring laparotomy for intraabdominal injury more than 24 hours after admission. In the 3-year period 2327 patients sustained solid viscus injuries; 1561 of these patients were managed nonoperatively (66 per cent). The nonoperative approach was initiated less frequently in those patients with greater impairment in mental status: GCS 15, 71 per cent; GCS 8 to 14, 62 per cent; and GCS < or =7, 50 per cent. Mortality, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit days were greater in operatively managed GCS 15 and 8 to 14 groups but were not different on the basis of management in the GCS < or =7 group. Failure of nonoperative management occurred in 94 patients (6%). There was no difference in the nonoperative failure rate between patients with normal mental status and those with mild to moderate or severe head injuries. Nonoperative management of neurologically impaired hemodynamically stable patients with blunt injuries of liver, spleen, or kidney is commonly practiced and is successful in more than 90 per cent of cases. No differences were noted in the rates of delayed laparotomy or survival between normal, mild to moderately head-injured, and severely head-injured patients.

Abdominal Injuries↗