@article{ref1,
title="Contemporary characteristics of blunt abdominal trauma in a regional series from the UK",
journal="Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England",
year="2016",
author="Pande, R. and Saratzis, A. and Winter Beatty, J. and Doran, C. and Kirby, R. and Harmston, C.",
volume="99",
number="1",
pages="82-87",
abstract="INTRODUCTION Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is a common injury in recent trauma series. The characteristics of patients with BAT have changed following the reconfiguration of UK trauma services. The aim of this study was to build a new profile for BAT patients undergoing immediate or delayed laparotomy. <br><br>METHODS All 5,401 consecutive adults presenting with major trauma between April 2012 and April 2014 in the 3 major trauma centres in the West Midlands were analysed to identify all patients with BAT. A total of 2,793 patients with a mechanism of injury or symptomatology consistent with BAT were identified (52%). Outcomes were analysed using local electronic clinical results systems and notes. <br><br>RESULTS Of the 2,793 patients, 179 (6.4%) had a mesenteric or hollow viscus injury, 168 (6.0%) had a hepatobiliary injury, 149 (5.4%) had a splenic injury and 46 (1.6%) had a vascular injury. Overall, 103 patients (3.7%) underwent an early (<12 hours) laparotomy while 30 (1.1%) underwent a delayed (>12 hours) laparotomy. Twenty (66.7%) of those undergoing a delayed laparotomy had a hollow viscus injury. In total, 170 deaths occurred among the BAT patients (6.1%). In the early laparotomy group, 53 patients died (51.5%) whereas in the delayed laparotomy group, 6 patients died (20.0%). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS This series has attempted to provide the characteristics of patients with BAT in a large contemporary UK cohort. BAT was found to be a common type of injury. Early and delayed laparotomy occurred in 3.7% and 1.1% of these patients respectively, mostly because of hollow viscus injury in both cases. Outcomes were comparable with those in the international literature from regions with mature trauma services.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0035-8843",
doi="10.1308/rcsann.2016.0223",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2016.0223"
}