Blunt abdominal trauma: A prospective analysis of surgical management and outcomes

Abstract

Background: A major cause of morbidity and mortality for the working population of industrialized and developing nations is trauma, particularly blunt abdominal trauma. Objective: To assess the outcome of surgery for Blunt abdominal trauma. Methods: During the period of the study, 60 cases of blunt abdominal trauma were examined in a tertiary care hospital. Upon admission, the patient's medical history was reviewed, including the type of injury sustained and the time of the incident. In addition to a detailed physical examination, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were measured at the time of admission. A systemic examination of the chest, abdomen and central nervous system was also carried out. Injuries to the external, skeletal, and other parts of the body were noted. Likewise, the presence of hematuria was recorded. Results: Younger populations (21-0 years) are more likely to suffer trauma, with men (7:1) being more likely to suffer. Most of the injuries were caused by motor vehicle accidents (48.33%). The blind abdominal tap was 55% sensitive to hemoperitoneum, while ultra-sonography was 80% sensitive. CT was almost 100% sensitive for abdominal injuries. Spleen (46.67%) and liver (21.67%) were the common organs injured. Patients who got delayed for hospital admission and whose operations lasted over an hour had a higher mortality rate. Conclusion: Preventing abdominal trauma would prevent loss of productivity. It would be advantageous if trauma registries documented the care delivered, assessed the outcome, and implemented necessary changes as early as possible.