Role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Penetrating Abdominal Trauma

Background and Objective: Trauma remains the major cause of mortality and disability among young people across the world with penetrating trauma being a very common cause. Traditionally, penetrating abdominal trauma was managed with exploration. But now with the advent of minimally access surgery and advancements in laparoscopic expertise, more patients can be managed with minimally invasive methods. This approach can save many unnecessary laparotomies and large midline incisions. The role of laparoscopy in blunt abdominal trauma is well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal injuries. Methods: All the penetrating abdominal trauma patients presenting to the emergency department of Rawal Medical and Dental hospital from January 2019 till December 2020 for a period of 2years (a total of 102 patients) and who were hemodynamically stable, between the ages of 20 to 50 years of either gender were included in the study. All these patients had equivocal abdominal findings with no signs to suggest serious intraabdominal injury. These patients were prepared as standard for general anesthesia and diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. A predesigned performa was used for entering the patients’ details and operative findings. All patients gave written informed consent in urdu. Main outcome measures were the conversion rate, missed injuries leading to reexploration. Results: 85%of the patients were males with only 15% females. Mean age of the population was 38.7 years .Conversion to open was required in only 6.12 % of the cases .Laparoscopy alone was sufficient for all other patients. In about 36% of the patients no intraabdominal injury was found. In rest 58% patients the surgeons were able to repair the injuries laparoscopically.18 patients had minor liver injury,10 patients had minor hemoperitoneum<100 ml without any significant injury and 2 patients had single small bowel perforation which was repaired laparoscopically and cavity was irrigated. No patient had post operative complications of peritonitis due to missed injury or bleeding leading to re exploration. Conclusion: Laparoscopy is a very effective procedure to deal with penetrating abdominal trauma patients who are stable and with equivocal abdominal findings without increasing risk of missed injury with minimal rates of conversion to open laparotomy if patients are selected vigilantly. Keywords: Penetrating, Diagnostic Laparoscopy, Abdominal Trauma

A Case of Hepatic Injury Following Shrapnel Injury to the Abdomen in a Paediatric Patient

In children, trauma is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Trauma can be a catalyst resulting in intra-abdominal solid organ injury in this population. The case report highlights a prepubescent male who presented with a penetrating abdominal wound resulting in hepatic injury. The mechanism of injury in this case is unusual and differs from previously reported causes of penetrating abdominal trauma in children. The case demonstrates that penetrating abdominal injuries may be more likely to require surgical intervention secondary to their association with a high percentage of multiple organ injuries. Penetrating injuries in children require a high degree of vigilance to rule out visceral injury.

EP.FRI.99 Penetrating Abdominal Trauma: Comperative Study Between Operative and Conservative Management

Aim to Assess the feasibility and safety of selective non-operative management in penetrating abdominal injuries and to identify a protocol for selection of patient candidates for non-operative management. Methods In this comparative study 40 abdominal stab victims (admitted to Emergency Department) were selected during a 6 months period where 20 patients were suitable for non-operative management according to strict selection criteria whereas the other 20 patients were operated according to clinical and/or radiological indications or on basis of department protocol, the results were compared in view of final outcome. Results In our study, 15 patients were assigned for operative management according to selected clinical and/or radiological indications only 3 of them (20%) had non-therapeutic laparotomies, On the other hand, five patients were explored on basis of department protocol in violation of our indications for exploration; four of them (80%) were non-therapeutic. So, the rate of non-therapeutic laparotomies was significantly higher when done mandatory without selected clinical and radiological indications. Conclusion Assessment of vital signs together with abdominal examination are the most important and dependable tools in decision making in penetrating abdominal trauma patients. Patients with shock on admission (but responding to resuscitation), proved low grade solid organ injury (by CT), and proved intraperitoneal collection (by US or CT) could be managed conservatively regarding that they remain vitally and clinically stable. If failure of conservation occurs, it is usually during the 1st 24 hours after admission.

90 Penetrating Abdominal Trauma: Comperative Study Between Operative and Conservative Management

Aim to Assess the feasibility and safety of selective non-operative management in penetrating abdominal injuries and to identify a protocol for selection of patient’s candidates for non-operative management. Method In this comparative study 40 abdominal stab victims (admitted to Emergency Department of Alexandria Main University Hospital) were selected during 6 months period where 20 patients were suitable for non-operative management according to strict selection criteria whereas the other 20 patients were operated according to clinical and/or radiological indications or on basis of department protocol, the results were compared in view of final outcome. Results In our study, 15 patients were assigned for operative management according to selected clinical and/or radiological indications only 3 of them (20%) had non-therapeutic laparotomies, On the other hand, five patients were explored on basis of department protocol in violation of our indications for exploration; four of them (80%) were non-therapeutic. So, the rate of non-therapeutic laparotomies was significantly higher when done mandatory without selected clinical and radiological indications. Conclusions Assessment of vital signs together with abdominal examination are the most important and dependable tools in decision making in penetrating abdominal trauma patients. Patients with shock on admission (but responding to resuscitation), proved low grade solid organ injury (by CT), and proved intraperitoneal collection (by US or CT) could be managed conservatively regarding that they remain vitally and clinically stable. If failure of conservation occurs, it is usually during the 1st 24 hours after admission.

A Dire Emergency Case of Stab Injury with Impending Ischemia of Eviscerated Bowel with Colonic Perforation - A Case Report

Penetrating abdominal trauma is mostly caused by gunshots or stab wounds.1 Management of penetrating abdominal trauma is often challenging and time between the injury and surgical intervention play a pivotal role in such cases depending upon the clinical presentation of the patient.The success rate depends so much on early surgical intervention that one cannot wait for pre-operative work up before taking the patient to operation theatre2. We present a case of stab injury presented with eviscerated ischemic bowel and perforation in transverse colon with mesenteric arterial spurter.

A CLINICAL STUDY OF PENETRATING ABDOMINAL TRAUMA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS MANAGEMENT : AN INDIAN SCENARIO

Introduction: The incidence of penetrating abdominal injuries has been on the rise. The common availability of rearms, the lack of proper law, armed conicts, civil violence and road trafc accidents are the major causes of penetrating abdominal injuries. As patient with penetrating abdominal trauma are at risk of harbouring life threatening injuries, early diagnosis and timely intervention is the most important steps to reduce its morbidity as well as mortality. Recently due to improvement of the present healthcare system, the outcome of these injuries is improving. Materials And Methods: A descriptive observational study was carried out on 60 cases of penetrating abdominal injuries. A predesigned pretested schedule was used for data collection. Interview of the study subject and evaluation of all clinical reports was done to obtain the history, clinical ndings, management, complications, mortality and follow up. Before data collection, informed consent was obtained from each and every study subjects. Results: The overall incidence of penetrating abdominal trauma was found to be 2.30% of the total admission of 6217 patients in the department of surgery. The most common cause of penetrating abdominal injury found in this study is stab injury by sharp objects which is followed by gunshot injury. The commonest age group affected was 20 to 30 years which comprises about 41.67%. In this study we found a male preponderance in cases of penetrating injury to the abdomen. In most of the cases the mode is homicidal stab or gunshot injury followed by accidental injuries. Pain, abdominal distension and bleeding from the wound are the main presenting symptom. After initial evaluation with USG (FAST),CTscan abdomen is the most valuable investigation so far. In this series, it is found that the small intestine is the most commonly involved viscera followed by colon, omentum, mesentery and liver respectively. Most common complications after operative intervention was wound infection. The average hospital stay was 6 to 15 days. It has been observed that the post-operative complications, associated injuries and multiple organ injuries are the cause of increased hospital stay. Conclusion: Penetrating trauma can be serious because it can damage internal organs and presents a risk of shock and infection. In the present year, due to overall improvement in the communication and transportation, better monitoring systems and resuscitative measures, improvised diagnostic methods, better availability of blood and blood products, better medications and more skilful surgical techniques, the outcomes of these injuries are improving.

Thoracoabdominal impalement injury during pregnancy

Trauma has emerged as the leading cause of death during pregnancy. Penetrating abdominal trauma in pregnancy requires a rigorous clinical evaluation to establish a complete assessment of obstetric and non-obstetric lesions. In the case of major trauma, treatment is essentially carried out in a trauma centre with a multidisciplinary team to improve maternal and fetal prognosis. This is a case of a 20-year-old primigravid woman, 33 weeks and 4 days age of gestation, who was admitted for impaled foreign body. She was brought to the emergency department for a penetrating wound of the chest and abdomen after being accidentally impaled by a metre-long, inch-thick steel rod. Emergency laparotomy, caesarean section and thoracotomy were performed. The aim of this report is to discuss the assessment, management and role of the multidisciplinary team in the management of a pregnant trauma patient.