Visceral Injuries In Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Abstract

Introduction: Blunt abdominal trauma is a common indication of emergency exploratory laparotomy. There are different modes of injury in Blunt abdominal trauma and a variety of abdominal viscera are injured. There is insufficient literature on it in this part of the country. Aim of study: To observe mode of injury and visceral injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma who underwent exploratory laparotomy. Materials and Methods: All operated adult patients with blunt trauma of abdomen in a teaching hospital from 1 st May 2015 to 30 th April 2016 were included in the study. Children below 12 years of age were excluded from study. This is a retrospective observational study. The mode and nature of visceral injuries were noted. Related data from history sheets and operation records were collected. Data are analyzed by statistical methods. Results: Total number of operated patients was 57. Among them only one was female. Modes of trauma wereRTA in 43(75.4%) patients, fall from height in 7(12.3%) patients, physical violence in 5(8.8%) patients and fall of heavy object on abdomen in 2(3.5%) patients. Twenty(36.84%) patients had splenic injury, 11(19.3%) patients had hepatic injury, 23(40.35%)patients had small bowel injury, 1(1.75%) patient had stomach injury, 1(1.75%) patient had duodenum injury, 5(6.67%) patients had mesenteric tear, 1(1.75%) patient had retroperitoneal haematoma, 1(1.75%)patient had inferior vena cava injury and 1(1.75%) patient had colon injury. Some patients had combined visceral injuries. Conclusion: Road traffic accident is commonest mode of injury that needed exploratory laparotomy for blunt abdominal trauma. Most common visceral injury is small bowel injury followed by splenic and hepatic injury. Multiple visceral injuries are seen in some patients.