Clinical Outcome of Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Blunt abdominal trauma occurs when injuryto organs inside abdominal cavity is present due to externalforces exerted over abdomen as result of trauma. Widespectrum of clinical presentation is seen ranging from milderforms of injury to fatal solid organ injuries with irreversibleshock and ongoing bleeding. Management ranges fromwatchful observation to emergency laparotomy. Aim ofthis study was to evaluate different clinical presentation,organ specific injury and management of blunt abdominaltrauma.Material and Methods: A retrospective study with 25patients sustaining Blunt abdominal trauma who came toTrauma centre in Guru Gobindsingh Government Hospital,Jamnagar attached to medical college from 2016 to 2018 wereincluded. The patients were selected randomly.Results: Blunt abdominal injury was seen in all age from 1 to60 years. Highest incidence noted in age group 11 to 20 years.Male predominance was noted with Male Female ratio214 of5.251.Most common mode of injury was road traffic accident(44%). Most common injured organ was Liver (32%).Liver and spleen injuries were associated with rib fractures.Abdominal pain and tenderness was most common clinicalpresentation (90%). Patients with hemodynamic instabilityhad more mortality.Conclusion: Blunt abdominal injury is one of the commonestinjuries encountered in polytrauma patients. Morbidity andmortality can be prevented by timely initial resuscitation andcorrect diagnosis as well as management (operative or nonoperative) which depend on patient’s hemodynamic stabilityand findings of imaging studies.