ABSTRACT
Background: Blunt trauma abdomen is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among all age groups. In spite of the best techniques and advances in diagnostic and supportive care, the morbidity and mortality still remain large. The aim was to evaluate pattern and management strategies of solid visceral injuries in blunt trauma abdomen patients.Methods: This was a prospective study on 100 consecutive patients admitted in Department of General Surgery at a tertiary care center with an antecedent history of blunt abdominal injury. All patients proven to have penetrating injury and hollow viscus injury were excluded. The pattern of injury, presentation and parameters associated with management strategies were evaluated.Results: In the present study, solid viscera injury in blunt trauma abdomen is more common in age group 21-30 years (43%) with male predominance (92%). RTA (75%) were the most common mode of injury followed by fall. Most common clinical presentation was abdominal pain (86%) followed by tachycardia (34%) and hypotension (6%). Most common viscera injured is liver (48.2%) followed by spleen (36.7%), kidney (12.3%) and pancreas (2.8%). Majority of patients were managed conservatively (84%).Conclusions: It was concluded from the study that irrespective of the solid organ injury in blunt trauma abdomen, patients can be managed conservatively due to aggressive resuscitation with supplement drug therapy, use of analgesia or sedation in ICU setup and close monitoring. Patients are grossly hemodynamically unstable at presentation do require intervention either immediate or in due course of time.