Peer review report 1 on “Predictors of successful non-operative management of grade III & grade IV blunt pancreatic trauma”

Introduction Motor vehicle crashes are common causes of blunt abdominal trauma in the 21st century. While splenic trauma occurs very frequently and thus there is a well-established treatment paradigm, traumatic pancreatic injuries are relatively infrequent, occurring in only 3–5% of traumas. This low incidence means physicians have reduced experience with this condition and there is still ongoing debate with regards to the best practice in managing pancreatic trauma. During severe trauma, the pancreas can be injured as a consequence of blunt and penetrating injury. This has an estimated mortality rate ranging from 9 to 34%. Methods A systematic review was performed using three scientific databases: Embase, Medline and Cochrane and in-line with the PRISMA statement. We included only articles published in English, available as full text and describing only adults. Keywords included: pancrea*, trauma, blunt, operative management and non-operative management. Results Three studies were found that directly compared operative versus non-operative management in blunt pancreatic trauma. Length of stay, mortality and rate of re-intervention were lower in the non-operative group compared to the operative group. However, the average grade of pancreatic injury was lower in the non-operative group compared to the operative group. Discussion Our results revealed that patients who undergo non-operative management tend to have lower grade of injuries and patients with higher grade of injury tend to be managed in an operative fashion. This could be likely due to the fact that higher grade of pancreatic injuries is often accompanied by other injuries such as hollow viscus injury and therefore require operative intervention. Conclusion Non-operative management is a safe approach for low-grade blunt pancreatic trauma without ductal injuries. However, more evidence is required to improve our understanding and treatment plans. We suggest a large international multicentre study combining data from multiple international trauma centres to collect adequate data.

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Importance of a Follow-Up Ultrasound Protocol in Monitoring Posttraumatic Spleen Complications in Children Treated with a Non-Operative Management

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57080734 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (8) ◽

pp. 734

Author(s):

Ivona Djordjevic ◽

Dragoljub Zivanovic ◽

Ivana Budic ◽

Ana Kostic ◽

Danijela Djeric

Keyword(s):

Splenic Abscess ◽

Operative Management ◽

High Energy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Injury Grade ◽

Grade Ii ◽

The Mean ◽

Non Operative Management ◽

Grade Iii

Background and objectives: For the last three decades, non-operative management (NOM) has been the standard in the treatment of clinically stable patients with blunt spleen injury, with a success rate of up to 95%. However, there are no prospective issues in the literature dealing with the incidence and type of splenic complications after NOM. Materials and methods: This study analyzed 76 pediatric patients, up to the age of 18, with blunt splenic injury who were treated non-operatively. All patients were included in a posttraumatic follow-up protocol with ultrasound examinations 4 and 12 weeks after injury. Results: The mean age of the children was 9.58 ± 3.97 years (range 1.98 to 17.75 years), with no statistically significant difference between the genders. The severity of the injury was determined according to the American Association for Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification: 7 patients had grade I injuries (89.21%), 21 patients had grade II injuries (27.63%), 33 patients had grade III injuries (43.42%), and 15 patients had grade IV injuries (19.73%). The majority of the injuries were so-called high-energy ones, which were recorded in 45 patients (59.21%). According to a previously created posttraumatic follow-up protocol, complications were detected in 16 patients (21.05%). Hematomas had the highest incidence and were detected in 11 patients (14.47%), while pseudocysts were detected in 3 (3.94%), and a splenic abscess and pseudoaneurysm were detected in 1 patient (1.31%), respectively. The complications were in a direct correlation with injury grade: seven occurred in patients with grade IV injuries (9.21%), five occurred in children with grade III injuries (6.57%), three occurred in patients with grade II injuries (3.94%), and one occurred in a patient with a grade I injury (1.31%). Conclusion: Based on the severity of the spleen injury, it is difficult to predict the further course of developing complications, but complications are more common in high-grade injuries. The implementation of a follow-up ultrasound protocol is mandatory in all patients with NOM of spleen injuries for the early detection of potentially dangerous and fatal complications.

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Case Series : Operative vs Non-Operative Management in Grade III Pancreatic Injury

Medicinus ◽

10.19166/med.v7i6.2598 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 199

Author(s):

Andry Irawan ◽

Clinton Clinton ◽

Sutanto D ◽

Agustina F

Keyword(s):

Case Series ◽

Operative Management ◽

Pancreatic Injury ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

First Case ◽

Non Operative Management ◽

Left Abdomen ◽

Grade Iii ◽

Selection Of

Introduction: Pancreatic injury is a rare case, caused by blunt or sharp trauma. Difficulty in making diagnose on pancreatic trauma cases are associated with high mortality, and the treatment can be either operative or conservatively. However, It is still unclear which treatment is more favorable.Case: We present 2 cases of Grade III pancreatic injury with stable hemodynamic who suffered bicycle accident. First case, 12-year-old boy complaining severe pain on the upper left abdomen (VAS 9-10) and get worsening by time, with vomiting. The patient underwent distal Pancreatectomy-Splenectomy. Second case, 8-year-old boy complaining of pain on the upper left abdomen (VAS 6-7) without extension on whole abdominal region with vomiting and fever. The patient was treated conservatively. In both cases, patient was discharged with improvement. However, about 3 months later patients who were treated conservatively developed into a pseudocyst.Conclusion: The selection of management in grade III pancreatic injury can be operative or conservative depending on clinical findings such as hemodynamic condition and the quality of abdominal pain. But the occurrence of pseudocysts pancreas is another surgical challenge.

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