Abstract

Background: Abdominal hollow organ injuries due to blunt trauma are uncommon, but as they are usually diagnosed late, mortality and morbidity rates are high. In this study, we aimed to analyze the diagnostic methods and results of  patients with hollow organ injury related to blunt trauma. Methods: From December 2008 to December 2011, eight patients with abdominal hollowed organ injury related to blunt trauma were prospectively included in the study. Two patients with hemodynamic instability undergoing emergent laparotomy were excluded from the study.

Results: Hollow organ injuries accounted for 9.3% of all cases with abdominal blunt trauma. Injuried organs were jejunum (n=2), ileum (n=2), caecum and ascending colon (n=1) and transverse colon (n=1). Due to the development of peritonitis signs and suspicious computarized tomography findings, five patients underwent surgery during the 7-24 hours of follow-up, while one patient underwent emergent laparotomy because of organ evisceration. Two patients underwent laparoscopy. The mean ISS(Injury Severity Score) and PATI(Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index) values were 15.2 and was 9.8, respectively. One patient with caecum and ascending colon injury died due to sepsis (16.7%).

Conclusion: Mechanism of trauma and serial physical examination are important diagnostic factors. Free intra-abdominal fluid without solid organ injury in computarized tomography and the presence of signs of peritonitis may be diagnostic.

Key Words: Blunt; Trauma; Hollow Organ Injury.