Hepatic trauma: effects of delay in presentation

ABSTRACT

Hepatic trauma carries a substantial amount of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the study is to study the effects of delay in initiation of management of patients suffering from hepatic trauma. Prospective study. The study was carried out in the Department of Surgery, Mayo Hospital Lahore from the year 1995-1997. 57 patients were included in this study. They were operated and different methods of repair were employed. 57 patients were studied. 50 were males, 7 were females. They belonged to an age range of 12-62 years. 55.7% patients suffered from blunt trauma while the rest of the cases were of penetrating injury. Over 50% of the patients presented within 4 hours of injury. All of the patients were operated and there findings noted. Different types of haemostatic measure were employed. There were ten mortalities in this study. Early presentation to the hospital of hepatic trauma cases, has a good impact o n the ultimate outcome of the patients