Publication:

Blunt abdomen trauma: a study of 50 cases

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.