[Clinical management of renal injuries at Hospital Universitario Del Valle (Cali, Colombia)].

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with renal trauma at Hospital Universitario Del Valle (HUV) in Cali, Colombia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a descriptive study of patients diagnosed with renal trauma (ICD 10) at HUV between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2007. We gathered such variables as age, sex, haemodynamic stability, type of trauma, location and effect of injury, clinical examination findings at admission, presence of renal failure, need for transfusion, diagnostic method, accompanying injuries, required treatment, duration of hospital stay and complications. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v. 15.

RESULTS

106 patients were evaluated, 78.3% of whom were male; mean age was 30.5 years. The majority were admitted for blunt trauma (73.6%) mainly due to motorcycle accidents and falls from heights. Minor trauma (Grades 1-3) was found in 77.3% of cases, haematuria in 90% and flank pain in 64%. A CT scan was used in 69.8% of all cases. Conservative treatment was employed in 77.4% of the cases, mainly for minor trauma (P < .0001); of these, 12% subsequently required surgery. Acute abdominal pain was the main surgical indication. Procedures were as follows: Nephropexy (32%) nephrectomy (38%) and conservative treatment (26%). The main complication was rebleeding (3.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Minor trauma is the most frequent kind of kidney injury, and is usually present with associated injuries. Conservative treatment was administered to most patients, but the failure rate was 12% and the frequency of overall complications was 10%.