Determining the Outcome of Gastrointestinal Perforations Due to Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Background: Solid organ injuries are the most common type of injury during blunt abdominal trauma (BAT).

When compared to non-hollow viscus injuries, hollow viscus injuries are far more common.

The most serious issue with these disorders is that, despite modern procedures like focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST), computer tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, they are frequently undetected or diagnosed too late. This study evaluates gastrointestinal perforation following blunt abdominal trauma, their anatomical distribution, diagnosis, management, and outcome.

Study Objective: This study evaluates gastrointestinal perforation following blunt abdominal trauma, their anatomical distribution, diagnosis, management, and outcome.

Methods: The study was a prospective observational study that was carried out after receiving ethical approval from the hospital. Patients who presented with symptoms of peritonitis following blunt trauma, with isolated injury to the abdomen, and who were found to have gastrointestinal perforation on exploratory laparotomy were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included no perforation discovered during surgery and penetrating abdominal trauma. Each patient's data was entered into the Performa that had been set up for the study.

Results: During the study period, 32 patients were operated on for perforation caused by blunt abdominal trauma. The most common site of perforation in the study subjects was the jejunum, followed by the ileum and then the stomach. Among the procedures performed, simple perforation closure with peritoneal lavage was the most frequently performed procedure in 24 patients (75.0 percent). Resection anastomosis was performed in 3 (9.3 percent) of the cases, while stomas were created in 5 (15.6 percent) of the patients. In the postoperative period, 5 (15.6 percent) patients experienced complications, with chest infection being the most common. One patient died during the postoperative period, resulting in a 3.1 percent mortality rate.

Conclusion: To summarise, early detection and treatment are critical. The jejunum is the most common site of perforation in blunt trauma. Early surgery after adequate resuscitation is associated with a very good outcome in gastrointestinal perforation following blunt trauma to the abdomen.