[Non-operative management of blunt hepatic trauma]. / Künt karaciger travmalarina konservatif yaklasim.

BACKGROUND: Blunt hepatic trauma is frequently seen, particularly as a result of traffic accidents. Given that surgical therapy may have high rates of morbidity and mortality, a selected group of patients may can benefit from conservative management. We herein present, a group of patients with blunt hepatic trauma who were managed without any invasive diagnostic tools and / or surgical intervention. METHODS: Nineteen hemodynamically stable patients (9 males, 10 females; mean age 46,6; range 19-73 years) with blunt hepatic trauma were included in the study. Vital signs, hemodynamic parameters, liver function tests, need for transfusion, hospital stay and results of radiological tests were recorded as well as demographic characteristics. Classification of injury was done according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma's Organ Injury Scaling System. RESULTS: Nineteen patients had radiologically-proven liver injury. Nine patients had grade I injury, five had grade II, two had grade II and three had grade IV injuries. Twelve patients required blood transfusions. Fourteen patients had mild elevation of transaminases while the remaining five were completely normal. Mean hospital stay was 7.6 days. Blunt trauma was associated with a large abdominal wall hernia in one patient; the defect was repaired laparoscopically three months later. No patient underwent surgery due to the failure of conservative management and there was no death. CONCLUSION: For blunt hepatic trauma patients, non-operative management may be the initial therapy if haemodynamic stability can be maintained. The decision for surgical intervention should be given according to the presence of associated intraabdominal injuries. Liver injury score of patients is not as important as the hemodynamic status for determining conservative management.

Is pneumoperitoneum harmful during intra-abdominal hemorrhage in rats?

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgical interventions are being used in trauma patients for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, but there are limited studies on this subject. The effect of pneumoperitoneum during intra-abdominal hemorrhage has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic, respiratory, and renal effects of pneumoperitoneum in the splenic injury/ hemorrhagic shock model in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 80 anesthetized Wistar male rats (294.5 +/- 31.2 g) were randomized into 2 main groups: nontraumatized (group A) and traumatized (group B). After initial preparation and monitoring, each group was divided according to the degree of pneumoperitoneum. The nontraumatized subgroups were A1, sham-operated; A2, 4-8 mm Hg; A3, 9-13 mm Hg; and A4, 14-18 mm Hg. The traumatized subgroups were B1, splenic injury without pneumoperitoneum; B2, B3, and B4, splenic injury with pneumoperitoneum at 4-8 mm Hg, 9-13 mm Hg, and 14-18 mm Hg, respectively. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate were monitored continuously. Blood samples were obtained for hemoglobin, hematocrit, arterial blood gases, and biochemical analyses. Twenty-four hour urine output was collected. RESULTS: In group B4, pH, pCO2, and HCO3 levels were lower than in all other groups, while pCO2 and base deficit levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Both blood and urine analysis results showed that 24-hour urine output and the glomerular filtration rate of groups A4 and B4 were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while urinary osmolarity and fractional sodium excretion levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High-pressure pneumoperitoneum in splenically traumatized rats amplifies acidosis, decreases urine output, decreases glomerular filtration rate, and increases urinary osmolarity and fractional sodium excretion significantly.

Acute pancreatitis caused by afferent loop herniation after Billroth II gastrectomy: report of a case and review of the literature.

We present herein the rare case of a 44-year-old man found to have acute pancreatitis due to afferent limb obstruction caused by internal herniation, twelve years after Billroth II gastrectomy. The patient complained of nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain in acute onset. Physical examination, laboratory studies and computed tomography imaging revealed acute pancreatitis and peritonitis. The patient had been operated on urgently and afferent limb herniation was observed between the afferent loop's meso and duodenum. The herniated segment was incarcerated and the proximal segment of the afferent limb and duodenum were markedly dilated. Microperforations were also observed in the dilated proximal afferent limb. The herniated segment of the bowel was released and longitudinal plication and serosal patching procedure were performed on the afferent limb. The patient recovered after fifteen days and remained free of acute pancreatitis for two years.