J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2010 Oct;21(5):581-587.

Clinical Characteristics of Intraperitoneal and Retroperitoneal Solid Organ Injuries after Trauma

• Kim JH
• Kim SH
• Hong JS
• Lee JH
• Hong ES

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics and prognosis of intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal solid organ injuries after trauma.
METHODS
We analyzed computed tomography (CT) data for 232 patients who had injury to solid abdominal organs between January 2002 and June 2009. The patients who had solid organ injury on CT were categorized into intraperitoneal, retroperitoneal and intra/retroperitoneal injury groups. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively, and data regarding the sex and age of patients, mechanism of injury, initial hemodynamic status, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), amount of transfusion, admission rate to intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality were collected and analyzed. Injury severity of solid organs was classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading system.
RESULTS
The intraperitoneal injury group had 131 patients, the retroperitoneal injury group 49 patients, and the intra/retroperitoneal injury group 52 patients. The intra/retroperitoneal injury group exhibited low blood pressure, a large number of packed red blood cells that were transfused, and high ISS and abdominal AIS. They tended to stay longer in the ICU and showed a higher mortality. Conservative management was the most common therapeutic modality for all 3 groups.
CONCLUSION
The intra/retroperitoneal injury group showed higher fall for the mecahnism of injury, a lower initial blood pressure and a larger number of packed red blood cells that were transfused compared with the other groups. Therefore, physicians should rapidly identify those with a poor prognosis at initial presentation and make a decision quickly when they are caring for intra/retroperitoneal injury patients.

Keyword

Multiple trauma; Abdominal injuries; Peritoneal cavity; Retroperitoneal space

MeSH Terms

Abbreviated Injury Scale
Abdominal Injuries
Blood Pressure
Erythrocytes
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypotension
Injury Severity Score
Intensive Care Units
Medical Records
Multiple Trauma
Peritoneal Cavity
Prognosis
Retroperitoneal Space
Retrospective Studies