Gastrointestinal injuries

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal injuries are the most important among abdominal injuries. These injuries could be the result of blunt trauma, penetrating wound, or iatrogenic 292 gastrointestinal injuries were recorded in our work 13 were iatrogenic, 55 due to blunt trauma and 224 were due to penetrating injuries. These injuries were dealt with according to general surgical rules, any part of the gastrointestinal tract could be injured, no part was immune except the thoracic esophagus which was well protected by the thoracic cage. All patients were subjected to history. clinical examination, diagnostic peritoneal lavage. X-ray and sonogram when possible. Wound infection was 32. burst abdomen 8 D.V.T 12. chest infection 18 minor leak 13. severe leak 8. septicaemia 4 bleeding 3. trauma high risk area 3. pulmonary embolism 3 and mvocardial infarction 2. All gastrointestinal injuries could be treated with favorable outcome except duodenal injuries which were in deep need for meticulous handling and perfect drainage