Base deficit as an indicator of significant abdominal injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative predictive value of the arterial base deficit (BD) as an indicator of intra-abdominal injury (AI) and to compare BD with other indicators (chest injuries, pelvic fractures) of AI.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control analysis.


METHODS
University of California San Diego Medical Center.


RESULTS
Between January 1985 and July 1988, 3,223 blunt trauma patients were admitted, with complete records available on 3,011. Using a "best fit" multiple logistic regression, BD less than or equal to -6 was the single most important indicator of AI (P less than or equal to .0001), and the odds ratio for AI increased with each category of increasing severity of BD. Admission hypotension, major chest injury, pelvic fracture, and field hypotension (in odds ratio order) also were significantly associated with AI.


CONCLUSIONS
BD is a powerful indicator of AI. A normal BD does not exclude AI, but the presence of a BD less than or equal to -6 in a blunt trauma patient should be considered a strong indication for objective evaluation of the abdomen (ie, diagnostic peritoneal lavage).
Davis
J W
JW
Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego.
Mackersie
R C
RC
Holbrook
T L
TL
Hoyt
D B
DB
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
D007773:Lactates