Objective To investigate the reasons of misdiagnosis and missing diagnosis in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT), and to put forward effective preventive measures. Methods Literature on BAT diagnosis in recent years was reviewed. Results Misdiagnosis and missing diagnosis, which can take place in every segment of BAT patients, were still quite common nowadays. Conclusion Detailed case history collecting, faithful medical examination and making good use of assistant examinations can efficiently decrease the misdiagnosis and missing diagnosis rates of BAT patients.
Objective To evaluate the role of CT in diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract rupture after blunt abdominal trauma. MethodsTwenty preoperative CT scans and clinical data were obtained in 20 patients who subsequently had bowel ruptures verified surgically. CT findings were analyzed retrospectively in these patients. Retrospective interpretation was made by consensus of at least two radiologists. ResultsTwenty cases of CT scan showed intraperitoneal fluid (18 cases), pneumoperitoneum (18 cases), extravasations of gastrointestinal tract contents (2 cases), bowel wall findings (14 cases) and mesenteric injury (15 cases). Conclusion CT is fast, sensitive and noninvasive in diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract rupture after blunt abdominal trauma.
Objective To investigate the surgical treatment and outcomes for duodenal injury in blunt abdominal trauma. Methods Clinical data of patients with traumatic duodenal injury who underwent surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between December 2014 and August 2023 were retrospectively collected. The injury causes, diagnostic methods, surgical treatment methods, curative effect, and complications of patients were analyzed. Results A total of 8 patients were included. Among them, there were 7 males and 1 female. The age ranged from 17 to 66 years old, with an average of (44.4±19.3) years old. There were 5 cases of traffic accident injury, 2 cases of crush injury, and 1 case of falling injury. There was 1 case of duodenal bulb injury, 3 cases of descending part injury, 3 cases of horizontal part injury and 1 case of both descending and horizontal injuries. According to the scale of American Association for the Surgery of Trauma for duodenal trauma, there were 5 cases of grade Ⅱ injury, 2 cases of grade Ⅲ injury, and 1 case of grade Ⅳ injury. All patients underwent CT scan, of which 2 cases were directly diagnosed with duodenal injuries by CT, and the remaining cases diagnosed by intraoperative exploration. All patients underwent surgical treatment, including 4 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy, 2 cases of duodenal repair and gastrojejunostomy, 1 case of duodenal repair plus jejunostomy, and 1 case of superior mesenteric vein repair, pancreatic necrotic tissue removal, and abdominal catheterization for smooth drainage. One patient developed duodenal fistula on the ninth day after surgery and received secondary surgery, 1 died of multiple organ failure during the resuscitation phase after damage control surgery, 3 developed intra-abdominal infection and cured by anti-infective treatment. Conclusions Early clinical manifestations of traumatic duodenal injuries are atypical, and imaging findings might not be clear. For trauma patients suspected of having duodenal injury, rigorous vital sign monitoring is necessary. Once vital signs stabilize, exploratory surgery should be actively considered to identify the location of the injury and perform appropriate surgical procedures. Adequate postoperative enteric decompression and drainage should be ensured.