Damage Control Resuscitation and Surgery is the concept of controlled hypotension, haemostatic resuscitation and abbreviated surgical procedures following severe trauma; the practice of which has resulted in improved mortality and morbidity. We describe a rare case of thoraco-abdominal impalement successfully managed based on the concept of Damage Control Resuscitation.
Details of a young logger who sustained a clean prevertebral transection of the pancreas to the left of the superior mesenteric vessels and a crush injury in segments 2 and 3 of the liver are presented. CT scan was not done but ultrasound scan revealed free intraperitoneal fluid and no comment was made about the pancreas. The pancreatic injury was discovered at laparotomy carried out 24 hours after admission and treated by resection.
The resurging interest in diagnostic laparoscopy has witnessed its increasing application in trauma surgery. Such unbridled enthusiasm has at times overlooked its shortcoming in the diagnosis and management of certain in abdominal injuries. We report and discuss one such conspicuous limitation and advocate that the use laparoscopy in abdominal trauma should be tempered with caution.
Transverse sacral fracture is a very rare injury and frequently missed or delayed in diagnosis. We present a case with this injury and discuss its management.
We report two cases of uncommon vascular lesions (Littoral cell angioma and liver haemangioma) mimicking traumatic organ injuries. The patients' histories and clinical findings of trauma were well demonstrated. Both patients had interesting CT scan features that were suggestive of solid organ injuries. However, both conditions were subsequently found to be benign incidental lesions.
A young boy presented with history of abdominal trauma. History and initial clinical findings suggested a soft tissue injury. Due to increasing abdominal pain and fever, we proceeded with an exploratory laparotomy with a diagnosis of intra-abdominal injury, at which we found a perforated appendix. Appendicitis following blunt abdominal trauma needs high index of suspicion.
One hundred and thirteen patients sustaining blunt abdominal trauma over a 24-month period were retrospectively divided into three groups to assess parameters of three diagnostic methods and the time-lapse before implementing surgical treatment. Diagnosis was based in group A patients (n = 20) on physical findings, plain radiology, and blood and urine examinations. Diagnostic methods in group B patients (n = 35) and in group C patients (n = 58) were as in group A but with the addition of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) in group B or with the addition of diagnostic abdominal ultrasonography (DAU) in group C. Sixty-five patients underwent abdominal exploration. The time-lag from commencement of examination to surgery was 332.33 +/- 48.90 min, 251.82 +/- 29.08 min and 570.89 +/- 133.80 min respectively in groups A, B and C. It was significantly shorter in group B compared with group C (P = 0.03). DPL had a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 81% and an accuracy of 89% whilst DAU had a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 85% and an accuracy of 83% in detecting significant injury. The conclusion is that DPL in combination with DAU would facilitate early assessment and treatment of intra-abdominal injuries.
Thirty-five patients with blunt hepatic injuries treated in a 7-year period are reviewed. The difficulties of diagnosis are stressed in that only 48.6%c were diagnosed
preoperatively. Associated intra-abdominal and concomitant head, chest, pelvic and skeletal injuries accounted for most of these difficulties. Seventeen of the 35 patients had extensive lacerations or intra-lobar ruptures of the liver. Simple linear or stellate lacerated wounds were treated by drainage, or suture, or debridement of the ragged liver edges and suture. Prior to 1964 extensively lacerated liver wounds were treated by gauze packing. Three (60%c) of five patients thus treated died, while the others had multiple complications. Since 1964, packing has been abandoned in favor of major resection and of 11 patients who underwent such procedures only one died. Hepatic resection for severe blunt injuries has the advantages of removal of all devitalized liver, control of hemorrhage, reduction of postoperative complications such as secondary hemorrhage, intraabdominal and hepatic abscesses and hemobilia. Hepatic resection is recommended for subeapsular hematomas with intra-lobar rupture of the liver to avoid hepatic necrosis. These injuries are diagnosed by injection of methylene blue into the common hepatic duct. Low mortality and morbidity in this series is due to improved care of injured pa-tients, early surgical intervention and adequate removal of devitalized lacerated and injured tissues by debridement or major hepatic resection.
Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is the imaging modality of choice in assessing clinically stable patients with blunt abdominal trauma. This study assessed the role of MSCT in the detection of intra abdominal injury caused by blunt trauma in our centre within a two-year-period (2008-2009). A total of 151 patients had MSCT abdomen for blunt abdominal trauma within this study period. Positive scan were seen in 126 patients (83.4%). Out of these positive scans, liver, spleen and renal injuries were seen in 42.1% (n = 53), 34.9% (n = 44) and 30.0% (n = 34) of cases respectively. Laparotomies were performed in 45 patients. Out of these 45 laparotomies, 10 patients had surgically significant injuries that were missed on CT scan findings. The injuries were bowel perforation (n = 4), serosal tear of bowel (n = 1), mesenteric injuries with active haemorrhage (n=3), spleen injury (n = 1) and liver injury (n = 1).
Timely identification of specific injuries in a polytrauma case is of paramount importance in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, some of these injuries are subtle and can be missed on initial primary and secondary assessments. In this paper, we report one such injury in a case of a 16-year old motorcyclist who complained of abdominal pain over the right lumbar region after the motorcycle handlebar hit his abdomen. Although initial assessment was uneventful, he was subsequently diagnosed to have a traumatic abdominal wall herniation on abdominal computed tomography after more than 24 hours of observation in the ward.
Traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) after blunt injury is uncommon. Diagnosis requires careful examination and high index of suspicion. We report a case of a 12-year-old boy who complained of painful abdominal swelling over the left iliac fossa after a bicycle-handlebar hit his abdomen. TAWH was diagnosed clinically and confirmed with ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan. He developed incarceration after 12 hours of admission and subsequently underwent primary repair without mesh. As TAWH is usually associated with other concomitant injuries, it is important that we are meticulous to rule out other serious concomitant injuries.
Postmortem radiographic examinations of animals are commonly performed in judicial investigations to rule out gunshot and fractures. However, there was no available data on radiographic postmortem changes of animals. Forty-one sets of abdominal radiographs of feline cadavers made within 12 h of death were evaluated for postmortem changes. Intravascular gas was detected in 11 of 41 (27%) cadavers. The most common site of intravascular gas was the liver. Intravascular gas was also present in the aorta, femoral artery, celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries, and caudal superficial epigastric artery. Intrasplenic gas was detected in two cadavers. Only two cadavers had distended small intestine. One cadaver had pneumatosis coli. The changes detected were most likely due to putrefaction.
Retroperitoneal duodenal rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma is relatively uncommon. Diagnosis is difficult because the physical signs are subtle or they are difficult to interpret. A case of retroperitoneal duodenal rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma in whom the diagnosis was delayed is reported. Radiographic features are discussed. The role of early roentgen diagnosis is stressed in order to reduce the very high mortality which is associated with delay in diagnosis and treatment.
Renal injury is observed in 10 percent of cases of abdominal trauma, and the majority (80 percent to 90 percent) of these are attributable to blunt trauma. Intravenous urography and ultrasonography of the abdomen were previously the modalities of choice in the imaging of renal injuries. However, computed tomography (CT) is currently the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of blunt renal injury, since it provides the exact staging of renal injuries. The purpose of this article is to describe the CT staging of renal injuries observed in blunt abdominal trauma based on the Federle Classification and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma renal injury severity scale.
Introduction: Splenic pseudo-aneurysm is an uncommon complication following splenic injury caused by blunt abdominal trauma. Pseudo-aneurysm is usually treated with splenic arterial embolisation. Spontaneous thrombosis of a splenic pseudo-aneurysm can occur but it is rare. Method: We report a case of spontaneous thrombosis in a post-traumatic splenic pseudo-aneurysm. The patient was managed conservatively as he was haemodynamically stable with a repeat CT scan on the 7th day showing a tubular enhancing structure in the upper pole of the spleen demonstrating the same attenuation value .
Conclusion: This case illustrates a spontaneous resolution of splenic pseudo-aneurysm, which is a rare outcome of the condition.
Pseudohyperkalemia is a spuriously high serum potassium measurement in a patient with no clinical evidence of hyperkalemia. It has been reported to occur in patients with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis. Only a few cases of pseudohyperkalemia have been reported in patients after splenectomy. Two cases of pseudohyperkalemia occurring after emergency splenectomy for abdominal trauma are presented to highlight their clinical presentation and sequalae. Consecutive patients who underwent emergency splenectomy for trauma and subsequently developed pseudohyperkalemia were monitored in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre for their clinical sequalae. Both the patients developed leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and high serum potassium level within 2-weeks of their splenectomies. They did not demonstrate any symptoms and signs of hyperkalemia. Their conditions resolved spontaneously without any specific treatment. Pseudohyperkalemia should be suspected in a similar clinical scenario to avoid unnecessary treatment that could lead to severe hypokalemia.
Penetrating injuries to bladder occur in 20 % of cases. Synchronous bladder and rectal perforation occur in 30-64 % of cases. The management of rectal and bladder injuries depend on whether it is an extra-peritoneal or intra-peritoneal injury. We hereby, report a case of penetrating trauma in a 13 year old boy who fell off a tropical fruit (Rambutan - Nephelium lappaceum) tree. He sustained an extra-peritoneal rectal injury with intra-peritoneal bladder injury. The rectal injury was repaired primarily via per anal route while the bladder injury needed an open repair following laparotomy. Upon removal of bladder clots, a leaf of the ‘Rambutan’ tree was found intra-vesically. It was removed and bladder repaired as per standard method. We review the literature on rare intra-vesicle foreign bodies and discuss the treatment of synchronous rectal and bladder injuries.
Altered mental status in the setting of polytrauma poses a challenge to the emergency team managing the patient. The tendency to miss positive findings in these circumstances increases several folds due to multiple factors such as depressed mental status/intoxication, presence of distracting injuries and concurrent life-threatening injuries that require more urgent attention. In view of this, NEXUS (National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study) criteria of clearing the cervical spine was adopted and used worldwide. Consensus on clearance of the other parts of spine is still lacking. This case reports highlights the findings in a 18-yrs-old male who presented with altered mental status, facial pain and abrasion, following a motor vehicle accident. Facial bone fracture was diagnosed and he was discharged. Three days later, he came with severe epigastric pain. Tenderness on palpation was noted at the spine and Computed Tomography (CT) scan was done. Multiple thoracic vertebra fractures were seen. As a conclusion, thorough primary and secondary survey should be done in patients who have regained full consciousness prior to discharge in order to avoid overlooking other serious injuries.
Keywords: altered, CT scan, fracture, mental status, thoracic vertebra
Computed tomography (CT) is currently the diagnostic modality of choice in the evaluation of clinically stable patients with blunt abdominal trauma, including the assessment of blunt bowel and mesenteric injuries. CT signs of bowel and/or mesenteric injuries are bowel wall defect, free air, oral contrast material extravasation, extravasation of contrast material from mesenteric vessels, mesenteric vascular beading, abrupt termination of mesenteric vessels, focal bowel wall thickening, mesenteric fat stranding, mesenteric haematoma and intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal fluid. This pictorial essay illustrates CT features of bowel and/or mesenteric injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Pitfalls in interpretation of images are emphasized in proven cases.