Abstract
Abdominal trauma is the third most common cause of all trauma-related deaths in children. Liver injury is the second most common, but the most fatal injury associated with abdomen trauma. Because the liver enzymes have high sensitivity and specificity, the use of tomography has been discussed for accurate diagnosis of liver injury. Our study was based on retrospective analyses of hemodynamically stabil patients under the age of 18 who were admitted to the emergency department with blunt abdominal trauma. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher as a result of liver injury. In the patients whose AST and ALT levels were lower than 40IU/L, no liver injury was observed in the contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). No liver injury was detected in the patients with AST levels lower than 100IU/L. Liver injury was detected with contrast-enhanced CT in only one patient whose ALT level was lower than 100IU/L, but ultrasonography initially detected liver injury in this patient. According to our findings, abdominal CT may not be necessary to detect liver injury if the patient has ALT and AST levels below 100IU/L with a negative abdominal USG at admission and during follow-up.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.