Gall bladder injuries as part of the spectrum of civilian abdominal trauma in South Africa.
BACKGROUND
Trauma to the gall bladder is rare, but when missed or improperly managed it may be associated with significant morbidity. The aim of the present study was to review the management and outcomes of gall bladder trauma in a trauma centre.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with gall bladder injury due to abdominal trauma were reviewed over a 3-year period. Surgical management, associated injuries, morbidity and mortality rates were determined.


RESULTS
Among 1242 patients undergoing laparotomy for acute trauma, 43 patients (3.46%) with gall bladder injuries were identified. Forty patients sustained penetrating injuries (37 with gunshot wounds and three with stab wounds), and three patients suffered from blunt trauma. All patients with gall bladder injury underwent abdominal exploration because of associated intra-abdominal injuries. Thirty-six patients were treated with cholecystectomy, four patients underwent primary suture repair of the gall bladder perforation, while three patients with gall bladder injury were treated without any surgical intervention at laparotomy. No complications could be attributed to the gall bladder trauma or surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Cholecystectomy is the preferred procedure of choice for gall bladder injuries and is associated with no morbidity.
Zellweger
René
R
Trauma Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Navsaria
Pradeep H
PH
Hess
Florian
F
Omoshoro-Jones
Jones
J
Kahn
Delawir
D
Nicol
Andrew J
AJ
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology