title: The efficacy of non-operative management in childhood blunt hepatic trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study the results of non-operative management of pediatric hepatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multitrauma patients (n = 498) admitted between 1998 and 2002 were analysed as for mechanism of trauma retrospectively. Liver injuries were classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma's Organ Injury Scaling System. Liver function tests, transfusion status, duration of hospital stay, complications, and operative intervention needed were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients had liver injuries. The mean age was 6.7 years and male/female was 2.5/1. Number of patients in terms of injury grade: I: 15, II: 26, III: 29, IV: 4, V: 1. There was no significant difference between mean blood pressures, heart rates, and hematocrite values on admission and post-stabilisation. In three of 21 transfused patients, it exceeded 40 ml/kg and two of them were operated. The mean pediatric trauma score was +2. As a complication biloma was encountered in one patient. One patient with grade V hepatic injury died in the operating room because of heavy bleeding. The average hospital stay was 8,6 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the efficacy of non-operative management of any grade hepatic injuries due to blunt abdominal trauma, with resultant low complication and mortality rates and shorter hospital stays.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Izmir, Turkey. drkarkiner@superonline.com
authors.forename: Aytaç
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karkiner
authors.forename: Günyüz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Temir
authors.forename: Meriç
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Utku
authors.forename: Başak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Uçan
authors.forename: Münevver
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoşgör
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karaca
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase