[Perforation of hollow viscera in abdominal injuries].

OBJECTIVE

This is a retrospective study to evaluate our results in the treatment of abdominal trauma.

DESIGN

We have analysed the incidence, the clinical characteristics, the diagnosis, the indications for laparotomy, the therapeutic methods and the morbidity-mortality. During the last 14 years we have operated on 29 hollow viscus injuries. They were divided into two groups: Eleven with penetrating or open trauma and 18 with blunt or closed traumatism.

RESULTS

In the cases of blunt trauma 36.8% of injuries were located in the proximal jejunum, 21% in the terminal ileum, 15% in the colon. In the cases of penetrating trauma, small intestinal perforation predominated (46.9%). In 23.5% of the cases the colon was affected. Morbidity in blunt trauma was 38.8% and 0% in penetrating trauma. The mortality in the two groups has been zero.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common surgical procedure practised for injuries to the small intestine was simple suture, and for injuries to the colon, colostomy. The most usual surgical procedures in penetrating trauma were simple suture in all small intestine injuries and for colonic lesions half had primary closure and half suture plus colostomy.