Blunt traumatic injuries of the gastrointestinal and biliary tract in childhood. Analysis of 16 cases.
BACKGROUND
Little attention has been given to abdominal hollow viscus injuries in pediatric literature. The purpose of this report is to describe their main features, and the current methods of diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
We reviewed our experience with 16 cases of blunt injuries involving the gastrointestinal (GI) and biliary tract in the last seven years.


RESULTS
Male to female ratio was 0.68 and mean age 9.4 years. The site of injury was the stomach in 2 cases, duodenum in 5, jejunum or ileum in 7, caecum in 2, left mesocolon in 2, and gallbladder in 1. Diagnosis of the 8 perforations was clinically suspected in 6, and confirmed by radiography in 6 or surgery in 2, with a mean delay of 0.42 days. Diagnosis of the 11 hematomas was clinically suspected in 6, and confirmed by radiography in 9 or surgery in 2, with a mean delay of 12.6 days. Hematomas were managed nonoperatively, and perforations were surgically or laparoscopically closed. Mortality was 1/16 by pancreatic injury, and morbidity was 4/16.


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of blunt hollow viscus injuries is low in children. Hematomas are easily recognized by modern radiography, and simply managed nonoperatively. Diagnosis of perforations still remains difficult. This results in dangerous delays for lesions which need prompt repair.
Galifer
R B
RB
Department of Visceral Pediatric Surgery, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France.
Forgues
D
D
Mourregot
A
A
Guibal
M P
MP
Allal
H
H
Mekki
M
M
Rizet
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004064:Digestive System / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*