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Dilemma of Blunt Bowel Injury: What are the Factors Affecting Early Diagnosis and Outcomes

Blunt bowel and mesenteric injury (BBMI) is frequently a difficult diagnosis at initial presentation. We aimed to study the predictors for early diagnosis and outcomes in patients with BBMI. Data were collected retrospectively from the database registry between January 2008 and December 2011 in the only Level I trauma unit in Qatar. Patients with BBMI were divided into Group A (surgically treated within 8 hours) and Group B (treated after 8 hours). Data were analyzed and χ2, Student's t test, and multivariate regression analysis were performed appropriately. Among 984 patients admitted with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT), 11 per cent had BBMI with mean age of 35 ± 9.5 years. Polytrauma and isolated bowel injury were identified in 53 and 42 per cent, respectively. Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in Group A in comparison to Group B (18 ± 11 vs 13 ± 8; P = 0.02). Presence of pain and seatbelt sign (P = 0.02) were evident in Group B. Hypotension (P = 0.004) and hypothermia (P = 0.01) were prominent in Group A. The rate of positive Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma was greater in Group A (P = 0.001). Among operative findings, bowel perforation was more frequent in Group B (P = 0.04), whereas mesenteric full-thickness hematoma was significantly higher in Group A. Pelvic fracture was more frequent finding in Group A (P = 0.005). The overall mortality rate was 15.6 per cent. In patients with BAT, the presence of abdominal pain, hypotension, ISS greater than 16, hypothermia, pelvic fracture, and mesenteric hematoma might help in early diagnosis of BBMI. Moreover, base deficit and mean ISS were independent predictors of mortality. Delayed operative interventions greater than 8 hours increased morbidity rate but had no significant impact on mortality.