Blunt abdomen trauma: a study of 50 cases

Abstract

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among all age groups. Identification of serious intra-abdominal pathology is often challenging; many injuries may not manifest during the initial assessment and treatment period.Methods: This study was conducted on 50 patients of blunt abdominal trauma admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Including All patients with blunt abdominal trauma and Patients of all age groups.Results: In present study age group affected was 11 to 20 years and 41 to 50 years (20% each). Next group was 21 to 30 years (18%), male: female ratio was 2.8:1, most common mode of injury was road traffic accidents. Incidence of road traffic accidents was 48%. In study 2 patients out of 3 patients expired due to late presentation, liver injured (34%), followed by spleen (16%). Other injuries were small intestine and mesentery (14%), Urethral injury (12%) and muscular hematoma (8%), clinical presentation was abdominal pain (90). Extremity fractures 14% of cases, postoperative complication of respiratory infections (50%). Wound infection was 25% of patients. 2 patients who died suffered postoperative complications. Mortality rate (40%) in hemodynamically unstable patients than in hemodynamically stable patients (3%), Survival rate 94% while mortality rate 6%.Conclusions: Morbidity and mortality can be prevented by timely initial resuscitation and correct diagnosis as well as management (operative or non-operative) which depend on patient’s hemodynamic stability and findings of imaging studies.