No need for surgery? Patterns and outcomes of blunt abdominal trauma.

ABSTRACT: Introduction:The management of a patient suffering from blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) remains a challenge for the emergency physician. Within the last few years, the standard therapy for hemodynamically stable patients with BAT has transitioned to a non-operative approach. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of patients with BAT and to determine the reasons for failure of non-operative management (NOM). Materials and methods:Analysis of 176 consecutive patients treated for BAT was conducted in a German level 1 trauma center from 2004 to 2011. Abdominal injuries were classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). Patients included were demonstrated to have objective abdominal trauma with either free fluid on focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) or computed tomography (CT), or proven organ injury. Results:Patients, 142 of 176 (80.7%), with BAT were initially managed non-operatively, with a success rate of 90%. The rates of NOM success were higher among those with less severe injuries; 100% with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of 1. In total, 125 patients (71.0%) were managed non-operatively, and 51 (29.0%) required surgical intervention. NOM failure occurred in 9.2% of the patients, the most common reason being initially undiagnosed intestinal perforation (46.2%). Positive correlation was identified (r?=?0.512; p?

SUBMITTER: Goedecke M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6817729 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature