Intramural haemorrhage of the intestine as an indirect effect of missile trauma.

An experimental model for the study of intramural haemorrhages in the intestinal wall following indirect trauma by low-velocity missile is presented. Penetrating or non-penetrating abdominal gun-shot wounds were inflicted on pigs. The macro- and microscopical appearance and development of the haematoma-like lesions were studied. The commonest sites of early (ca. 0.5 h) microscopical lesions were the loose submucosal connective tissue and the mucosa. Mucosal ulcerations were seen in about half of the pigs after 1.5 h. They were probably caused by severe circulatory disturbance after bleeding in the submucosa and mucosa. Later perforating lesions also developed, but not until after ca. 24 h.