Exclusive jejunal and ileal lesions due to blunt trauma

ABSTRACT

Twenty-six patients with jejuno-ileal lesion due to blunt trauma were treated at the Trauma Surgery Department of the State University of Campinas, UNICAMP. Twenty-two were male (84.6%), white, and age varied from 11 to 60 years. Blun trauma was caused by automobile accident (38.7%), falls (26.8%) and other causes (11.5%). The time elapsed between the trauma and the surgical correction was less than 6 hours in 15 patients, from 6 to 12 hours in 4 patients, from 12 to 24 hours in 1 patient and over 24 hours in 6 patients. The indication for laparotomy was based on the clinical picture, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, peritoneal paracentesis and radiologic findings. The lesions were treated by resection in 16 cases (61.5%) and debridamente and suture in 10 cases (38.5%). Only 1 patient died, due to septic shock. He had multiple ileal lesions and more than 24 hours delay. Most of the patients (16) stayed in the hospital for 6 to 10 days. Tje results revela that diagnostic peritoneal lavage associated with a strong suspicion on the part of the surgeon will aasure an early diagnosis and if followed by immediate surgery will determine a better prognosis for these patients