Our experience with pancreatic injury due to trauma in a rural area

Abstract

Aim We aimed to analyze The pancreatic injuries due to trauma and their treatment. Material and methods This study includes the data of ten patients who were operated on due to abdominal trauma and were further diagnosed with pancreatic trauma in the General Surgery Service between January 2016 and December 2019. Results Of the 472 patients admitted to our hospital with abdominal trauma, 10 had pancreatic injuries. Seven (70%) of these patients were male and three (30%) were female. When the causes of the injuries were examined, six (60%) had gunshot wounds (GSW), three (30%) had stab wounds (SW), and one (10%) had a pancreatic injury due to falling from a height. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in eight (80%) patients. One patient’s CT was reported as normal. Other scans indicated findings suggestive of abdominal injury, such as free air and free fluid in the abdomen. Following the pancreas, the stomach was the most injured organ (80%), followed by the liver, spleen and kidney, respectively. An isolated pancreatic injury was observed in only one case. Complications developed in eight (80%) patients, Three (30%) of our patients died in the postoperative period. The mean hospital stay of the patients was 9.8±6.14 (min: 3, max: 24) days. Conclusion The pancreas is not commonly injured in abdominal trauma.. Even if preoperative imaging methods are normal, the pancreas should be explored in order not to miss pancreatic injuries in trauma patients who were operated on.