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Trauma calls: role of the general surgeon and CT scanning.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: General surgeons are required in only a minority of trauma call cases to assess for abdominal injuries. Computed tomography (CT) accurately detects blunt abdominal injuries and may have replaced the need for general surgeons at trauma calls. This study evaluated the role of general surgeons at trauma calls and assessed use of CT in cases of suspected abdominal trauma. METHODS: (a) Eighteen month analysis of trauma calls at a district general hospital and (b) three month prospective study of all trauma cases presenting to A&E. RESULTS: (a) There were 73 trauma calls and the mechanism of injury in most cases was a road traffic accident (RTA). Most patients had orthopaedic and/or neurosurgical injuries. The general surgeons assessed 22 trauma call patients. Abdominal injury was excluded in 13 (four by clinical examination and nine following CT). (b) Forty three patients fulfilled the criteria for a trauma call and 14 trauma calls were made. The mechanism of injury in most was RTA and most had orthopaedic and/or neurosurgical injuries. The general surgeons assessed 10/43 potential trauma call patients, and abdominal injury was excluded in five (one by clinical examination and four following CT). CONCLUSION: A&E staff managed most trauma calls. Most patients did not require general surgical intervention. For penetrating injuries, presence of a general surgeon remained crucial. For blunt injuries CT was an important adjunct. These data suggest that general surgeons do not routinely have to attend all trauma calls but can be called if abdominal and/or vascular injuries are specifically suspected.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Traumatic duodenal hematoma in the pediatric patient.

Twenty children with duodenal hematomas secondary to blunt trauma were treated between 1953 and 1983. The duodenal injury was isolated in ten cases and associated with intra-abdominal injuries in the others. In ten, the duodenal injury was suspected on admission and the diagnosis was confirmed within 24 hours by radiographic contrast studies. All ten were managed successfully with nasogastric suction and intravenous fluids. Ten patients underwent laparotomy for increasing abdominal tenderness and guarding. An isolated duodenal hematoma was found in four and treated by evacuation and/or gastroenterostomy. In five of the remaining six surgical patients, all of whom had multiple intra-abdominal injuries, the duodenum was left untouched. Three of these patients had postoperative contrast studies that showed early resolution of the duodenal hematoma. No duodenal stricture or leak developed in any patient. The children with isolated duodenal hematomas who were treated conservatively had a mean hospital stay of six days, whereas those treated surgically had a mean stay of 17 days. The ten patients with multiple intra-abdominal injuries had a mean hospital stay of 32 days. In this group, eight required total parenteral nutrition or nasojejunal feeds for nutritional support. In these patients, an isolated duodenal hematoma resulted in minimal morbidity and nonoperative management was usually successful. The presence of associated intra-abdominal injuries was responsible for the prolonged hospitalization and delayed return of normal intestinal function in some patients.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Special surgery of blood vessels injuries in abdominal trauma].

The analysis of the results of treatment of 41 victims with large vessels injuries in abdominal trauma was carried out. According to their location, all the injured vessels were divided in 5 groups: 1) on median line above the mesocolon (9 cases); 2) on median line under the mesocolon (14 cases); 3) in superior lateral part of the abdominal cavity (2); 4) in interior-lateral part of abdominal cavity (8); 5) in the region of hepato-duodenal ligament and retrohepatic area (13). Combined vascular injuries were observed in 5 patients. Basic aspects of diagnosis, surgical policy and treatment are discussed, 14 patients died.

Abdomen↗

Abdominal venous injuries.

To improve our understanding of this frequently lethal, but potentially salvageable problem, the case records of 105 patients with 138 major intra-abdominal venous injuries seen over a 4 year period (1980-1984) were reviewed. The overall mortality rate was 54%. The most frequent abdominal venous injuries and their mortality rates were inferior vena cava, 54% (28/52); portal venous system, 51% (16/31); iliac veins, 71% (20/28); renal veins, 58% (11/19); and hepatic veins, 88% (7/8). Several important prognostic factors were identified. Of 48 patients who presented to the emergency department with no obtainable blood pressure, 41 (85%) died. Forty patients presented to the operating room with a systolic pressure less than 70 mm Hg and 36 (90%) died. Of 39 patients in hypovolemic shock for more than 15 minutes initially in the ED and operating room, 31 (79%) died. Of 71 patients who received 10 or more units of blood pre- and perioperatively, 48 (68%) died. Of 41 patients with five or more associated injuries, 30 (73%) died. Seventeen had a thoracotomy before laparotomy to cross-clamp the aorta for persistent severe shock; six responded with a substantial increase in blood pressure and three survived. Of 14 others with severe persistent shock who did not have a prior thoracotomy, only one survived. Atrial-caval shunts were attempted for severe retrohepatic bleeding in six patients with no survivors. Review of these cases suggests that improved survival might be obtained with: more vigorous administration of fluids in the emergency department and operating room; quicker movement to the operating room to control bleeding; and earlier definitive management for controlling bleeding--especially with iliac and/or retrohepatic injuries. A thoracotomy to cross-clamp the aorta prior to laparotomy with severe persisting shock should be considered.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Types of abdominal war injuries in relation to colonic injuries analyzed during 2 war years of treatment at the Clinic for Abdominal Surgery in Sarajevo].

The basic characteristics of war in Sarajevo are occasional shelling, sniper fire, unexpected shelling and a lack of a front line in the classic sense of the word. The extent of the wound is the key factor in deciding how the patient is to be treated. A primary contamination of this kind of wound has all the conditions to turn into a manifest infection. The abdomen wounds, because of their severity and direct threat to life, are among the most dangerous wounds altogether. They make up on average 10% of all war wounds and the mortality of these patients by today's literature is high, about 6%. The aims of this paper are to show which organs in the abdomen are wounded and what is their relationship to the wounding of the colon, and to show what is the relation between multiple and isolated wounding of the abdomen. During the years 1992 and 1993, 1106 patients with war wounds were treated at the clinic for the abdominal surgery. From that number 71 patients were treated with explorative laparotomy. The large intestine was injured in 274 patients while 221 patients had injuries of the small intestine. An injury of the liver was found in 165 cases. The gall bladder was injured in 18 cases. The stomach was injured in 324 patients. The pancreas was damaged in 72 patients. There were 94 cases of injured spleens. The kidneys were wounded in 30 cases. In 40 cases there was bleeding from the retroperitoncum. Treatment of the omentumen was carried out in 753 patients. The number of patients who did not survive is 135 of which 44 had an injury of the large intestine. A retrospective analysis data shows that the number of multiple wounds makes up over 98% of all wounds. Isolated wounds of abdominal organs are found in less than 2% of all cases. The increase mortality in our research can be explained greater energy of the projectiles which amplify the acceleration at asphalt surfaces which product the greater destructions of the tissue and the massiveness of the injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Diagnostics and treatment of patients with closed injuries of abdominal cavity organs in combination with craniocerebral trauma].

The article presents the results of the diagnostics and treatment of 114 patients with closed injuries of abdominal cavity organs combined with craniocerebral trauma. 34 (29.8%) of the patients developed injuries of two and more organs of abdominal cavity. The injured were subjected to complex examination methods including X-ray, ultrasonic diagnostics, endoscopy, laparocentesis, echoencephalography, spinal and pleural puncture, hemodynamic and hematological tests. All the injured were operated on. Infusion of autoblood was done to 32 (28%) of the patients. The analysis of the observation shows that rational use of common and informative diagnostic methods allows diagnosing timely patients with closed injuries of abdominal cavity organs in combination with craniocerebral trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Abdominal aortic injury in a child: intravenous digital subtraction angiogram (IVDSA) for the diagnosis of pediatric vascular trauma.

Abdominal aortic injury due to trauma is a rare entity, especially in the pediatric population. We report a 6-year-old girl with partial transection of the abdominal aorta as a result of a motor vehicle accident. The diagnosis was made with IVDSA. The patient survived the injury. We discuss the imaging findings, mechanisms, and associated injuries of abdominal aortic trauma in children.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Pediatric seatbelt injuries: diagnosis and treatment of lumbar flexion-distraction injuries.

Motor vehicle accidents are the major cause of flexion-distraction injuries of the thoracolumbar spine. In a retrospective review, we present the results of operative treatment for six pediatric patients who sustained such injuries while wearing seatbelts. There were three purely ligamentous injuries, two bony injuries (Chance fractures), and one combination injury. There were also concomitant neurological and intra-abdominal injuries. Of note is that two patients had either their spinal or abdominal injury missed on initial evaluation. All patients were treated surgically with open reduction and internal fixation. At average follow up of 2 years, all patients had a full range of motion with no back pain. Five had returned to their preinjury activity levels, while the sixth patient was paraplegic from his injury but was able to ambulate at home with crutches and knee-ankle-foot orthoses. We recommend operative reduction and two-level fusion of these injuries when (1) instability is apparent in either a purely ligamentous injury or an overtly unstable fracture-pattern, (2) significant kyphosis is present which cannot be reduced or maintained in a cast, or (3) there is associated neurological or intra-abdominal injury.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Blunt aortic injury with concomitant intra-abdominal solid organ injury: treatment priorities revisited.

BACKGROUND: Patients with blunt aortic injury (BAI) often have concomitant liver or spleen (L/S) injuries. With increasing use of cardiopulmonary bypass with heparinization in repair of BAI, many advocate operative management of the L/S injury before aortic repair to eliminate risk of hemorrhage. We evaluated the safety of nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt L/S injuries in patients undergoing acute BAI repair with bypass. METHODS: All patients admitted over a 6-year period with BAI were identified from the registry of our Level I trauma center. Patients with isolated L/S injuries without BAI admitted over the same period served as controls. Groups were compared with regard to demographics, injury characteristics, hospital course, and mortality. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were diagnosed with BAI from 1994 to 2000; 28 (33%) also had blunt abdominal trauma. Three patients with severe brain injury did not undergo BAI repair, and five required laparotomy before BAI repair for other intra-abdominal injuries (two for hemodynamic instability with splenic injury, and three for concomitant bowel injury). Therefore, 20 of 28 (71.4%) BAI patients with grade I or II L/S injury (Aorta L/S group) underwent planned NOM. All BAIs were repaired using partial bypass with full heparinization. These 20 patients are compared with 894 patients with grade I or II L/S injuries with no BAI (L/S group) over the same time period. There was no difference in the nonoperative failure rate of the Aorta L/S group versus the L/S group (0% vs. 1.7%). Both groups had similar complication rates. The Aorta L/S group was also compared with 56 BAIs without solid organ injury (Aorta group). Although the Aorta L/S group was more severely injured than the Aorta group (Injury Severity Score of 35.3 vs. 26.8, < 0.0001), transfusion rates (5.7 U of packed red blood cells vs. 8.0 U of packed red blood cells, p = NS), hospital days (17.9 vs. 19.1, p = NS) and mortality (10% vs. 9%, p = NS) were similar. CONCLUSION: NOM of patients with grade I or II L/S injury who undergo systemic anticoagulation with heparin for repair of BAI is safe and associated with transfusion rates similar to BAI alone. Patients with low-grade liver or spleen injuries do not require laparotomy before BAI repair using partial bypass.

Abdominal Injuries↗

A critical analysis of blood transfusion requirements in children with blunt abdominal trauma.

Over the past 2 years, 178 children with blunt abdominal trauma were admitted for observation. Fifty-five patients (31.5%) had intra-abdominal injury confirmed by computerized tomography (CT) scan, laparotomy, or postmortem examination. Forty-four children (80%) were managed with observation only; nine had other operations. Eleven patients (20%) required an operation for their intra-abdominal injuries. Thirteen patients died, ten from head or spinal injuries and three from intra-abdominal injuries (5.5%). Of 35 children with intra-abdominal injuries observed without any type of operation, 27 (77%) were not transfused (mean Pediatric Trauma Score [PTS] 8, Injury Severity Score [ISS] 19.3, average low hemoglobin [ALH] 10.1). The other eight were transfused an average of 49 cc/kg (mean PTS 4.5, ISS 26.5 ALH 6.1). Twenty children had operations. Eleven 11 (20%) of these were laparotomies; nine were transfused an average of 200.6 cc/kg (mean PTS 6, ISS 33, ALH 9). Nine had neurosurgical/orthopedic procedures (mean PTS 6.2, ISS 27.7), with six transfusions averaging 84.9 cc/kg (ALH 8.9). There were no significant complications. Blood transfusion was necessary only for 33 per cent of the observed cases, usually with multiple injuries. Blood should be transfused only to maintain hemodynamic stability (normal vital signs and tissue perfusion). Hemoglobin levels as low as 7 gm% do not mandate transfusion in children who are hemodynamically stable.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Selective peritoneal lavage in the management of comatose blunt trauma patients.

Comatose blunt trauma patients undergo diagnostic peritoneal lavage to aid in the management of severe injuries. In deference to routine performance of lavage, patients felt to be a risk for abdominal injury were prospectively studied by using selective criteria for lavage. One hundred consecutive comatose blunt trauma patients were studied; five underwent urgent celiotomy for refractory hypotension. Five criteria for lavage were: history of postinjury hypotension, abdominal physical findings suggestive of underlying abdominal injuries, evidence of fracture of the bones of the trunk and/or femur, blunt trauma of unknown etiology, and operative general anesthesia required for nonabdominal injuries. Fifty-five patients satisfied at least one of the above criteria and underwent peritoneal lavage. Forty patients not satisfying the criteria were observed without peritoneal lavage, as it was felt they had a decreased probability of serious abdominal injury. One of these patients had a minor liver laceration found at the time of autopsy following his death from severe head injury. None of the other patients had evidence of intra-abdominal injury by autopsy or subsequent clinical course. Utilizing the selective criteria, none of the 100 consecutive blunt trauma patients had major delay in abdominal diagnosis or missed significant abdominal pathology defined by operation, clinical course, or autopsy. Routine peritoneal lavage in all comatose blunt trauma patients may subject the patient to unnecessary risk, waste valuable time, increase the cost of care, and alter subsequent diagnostic procedures. Based on this small study, it appears that comatose blunt trauma victims not fulfilling the criteria may be effectively evaluated without the use of peritoneal lavage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdominal Injuries↗

Abdominal missile injuries at Gonder Hospital, northwestern Ethiopia.

A review of 121 patients, who had explorative laparotomies for abdominal missile injuries at Gonder College of Medical Sciences (GCMS) Hospital, showed a mortality rate of 16.5%, 83 non-fatal postoperative complications in 63 patients and prolonged hospital stay. Delay in evacuation, lack of good organization for effective resuscitation combined with a high rate of colonic injury (47.9%) were found to be the major contributing factors for the relatively high mortality, morbidity and prolonged hospital stay.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Abdominal impalement injuries].

Impalement is an uncommon and spectacular injury, which combines aspects of both blunt and penetrating trauma. With reference to our own seven patients we discuss the initial management and the operative treatment of this rare injury. Further we demonstrate the imminent problems after impalement injuries such as removal of the impaled object, treatment of colon- and other abdominal organ injuries, and management of vascular injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗