[Liver trauma. Description of a cohort and evaluation of therapeutic options].
BACKGROUND
Complex liver injuries carry high morbidity and mortality ranging between 40 and 80%.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of patients with liver trauma in the intensive care unit of our hospital, and the causes, severity scales, diagnoses, and treatments of these injuries, as well as length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the patients with liver trauma admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2000 to December 2005. There were two groups of patients: those who underwent surgery and those who received conservative treatment.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups in the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score on admission to the ICU, the Injury Severity Score (ISS), and the percentage of severelesions according to the Liver Injury Scale (LIS), as well as in the coexistence of lesions in the large intestine.


CONCLUSIONS
From the statistical point of view, the two main variables guiding the therapeutic approach were hemodynamic instability and the need for transfusion. The indication for surgery showed a clear, although non-significant, association with mortality. Lastly, there was an association between the surgical option of packing and mortality.
González-Castro
Alejandro
A
Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, España. jandro120475@hotmail.com
Suberviola Cañas
Borja
B
Holanda Peña
María Soledad
MS
Ots
Elsa
E
Domínguez Artiga
María José
MJ
Ballesteros
María Angeles
MA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy