title: Late presentation of jejunal perforation after thoracic trauma.
abstract: Jejunal perforation is extremely rare in trauma especially without initial involvement of the abdomen. We present the case of a delayed jejunal perforation after thoracic trauma with no initial indication of abdominal trauma in a 55-year-old man who was admitted to our department after a road traffic accident. The patient sustained thoracic trauma with rib fractures of the left hemithorax and hemopneumothorax and a mild head injury. On the fourth day of his in-hospital stay, he complained of severe abdominal pain and signs of acute abdomen were observed. He underwent emergency laparotomy where a perforation of the jejunum near the ligament of Treitz was noticed and sutured. His postoperative recovery was uneventful. Physicians treating trauma should always have a high degree of suspicion regarding rare abdominal injuries, with delayed presentation, even if no abdominal involvement is noticed during the initial survey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Larissa University Hospital, 41 110 Mezourlo, Larissa, Greece. kouritas@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Vasileios K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kouritas
authors.forename: Efthimiou
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matheos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baloyiannis
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spyridakis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Desimonas
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatzitheofilou
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007583:Jejunum / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors