Citation

Arkovitz MS, Johnson N, Garcia VF. J. Trauma 1997; 42(1): 49-53.

Affiliation

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9003257

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic trauma occurs in up to 10% of all cases of blunt pediatric trauma. Here we attempted to identify markers of pancreatic injury in children and to assess our current diagnostic approach to pancreatic injury. METHOD: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with a pancreatic injury admitted to a Level I pediatric trauma center between January of 1980 and September of 1994. RESULTS: In all, 26 children were included. All pancreatic injuries were due to blunt trauma. Handlebar injuries were the most common mechanism of injury and resulted in a unique pattern of isolated pancreatic trauma, often complicated by the development of a pseudocyst. Computed tomographic scans, performed with intravenous and oral contrast and done in the acute setting, were 85% sensitive for diagnosing a pancreatic injury. CONCLUSIONS: Double contrast computed tomographic scan is a more sensitive test than ultrasound in diagnosing pancreatic injury. The constellation of abdominal pain, an elevated serum amylase and a handlebar mechanism of injury warrants hospitalization and a double contrast abdominal computed tomographic scan.