title: The management of retroperitoneal haematoma discovered at laparotomy for trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review our local experience with presentation and management of retroperitoneal haematomas (RPH) discovered at laparotomy and factors affecting outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with retroperitoneal haematomas (RPHs) were identified from a prospective database. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, zones and organs involved, management and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 488 patients with abdominal trauma, 145 (30%) with RPH were identified 136 of whom were male (M:F=15:1). Mean age was 28.8 (SD 10.6) years and median delay before surgery was 7h. The injury mechanisms were firearms (109), stabs (24), and blunt trauma (12). Twenty-four patients (17%) presented with shock. There were 58 Zone I, 69 Zone II, and 38 Zone III haematomas. The median injury severity score (ISS) was 9. Fifty-two patients (36%) developed complications and 26 (18%) patients died. Sixty-four (44%) patients required ICU with median ICU stay of 3 days. All Zone I injuries were explored; Zones II and III were explored selectively. The mortality for Zones I, II, III and IV was 14%, 4%, 29% and 35%, respectively. Mortality was highest for blunt trauma and lowest for stabs (p=0.146). Twelve of 24 patients with shock died (50%) compared to 14 of 121 (12%) without shock (p<0.0001). Eighteen of 64 patients with <6-h delay before surgery died (28%) compared to 8 of 81 (10%) with >6-h delay (p<0.017). Mortality increased with increasing ISS. Median hospital stay was 8 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RPH accounted for 30% of abdominal trauma. Injury mechanism, presence of shock, delay before surgery and ISS showed a significant association with mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa. Electronic address: madiba@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Madiba
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Blunt trauma; Haematomas; Penetrating trauma; Retroperitoneal