title: Spectrum of abdominal organ injury in a primary blast type.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal organ injury in a primary blast type is always challenging for diagnosis. Air containing abdominal viscera is most vulnerable to effects of primary blast injury. In any patient exposed to a primary blast wave who presents with an acute abdomen, an abdominal organ injury is to be kept in a clinical suspicion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Study various abdominal organ injuries occurring in a primary type of blast injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  All those who had exploratory laparotomy for abdominal organ injuries after a primary blast injury for a period of 10 years from January 1998 - January 2008 were included in this retrospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 154 patients had laparotomy for abdominal organ injuries with a primary blast type of injury. Small intestine was damaged in 48 patients (31.1%) followed by spleen in 22.7% cases. 54 patients (35.06%) had more than one organ injured. Liver laceration was present in 30 patients (19.48%). Multiple small gut perforations were present in 37 patients (77.08%). Negative laparotomy was found in 5 patients (3.24%) whereas 3 (1.94%) had re-exploration. Mortality was present in 6 patients (3.89%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary blast injury causes varied abdominal organ injuries. Single or multiple organ damage can be there. Small intestine is commonest viscera injured. Laparotomy gives final diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, S.M.H.S Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Imtiaz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.forename: Fazal Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Parray
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Rauf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.forename: Abid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Mir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazir