EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR PATIENTS WITH BLUNT ABDOMINAL TRAUMA: A HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY

Abstract

Introduction:Blunt trauma to the abdomen occurs due to forces that induce shearing, compression, or deceleration injuries, particularly affecting anatomical structures that are relatively immobile. The evaluation of abdominal injuries is challenging and often results in missed diagnoses due to the complexity of symptoms and the difficulty in identifying subtle signs of internal injury. Aims & Objectives:To study the clinical presentation, evaluation, diagnostic investigations, and management strategies for various intra-abdominal organ injuries resulting from blunt trauma to the abdomen. Methods: - Following initial resuscitation and attainment of hemodynamic stability, all blunt abdominal trauma patients underwent meticulous clinical history-taking and comprehensive physical examination. Subsequent management decisions, whether operative or non-operative, were determined based on the integrated findings of clinical assessments and radiological evaluations. Results:Between August 2022 and August 2023, fifty (50) patients with blunt trauma to the abdomen were admitted to Basaveshwara Teaching and General Hospital, Kalaburagi. In this study, males predominated in the 21 to 30-year age group, which represented the most frequent demographic for abdominal blunt trauma. Traffic collisions were identified as the leading cause of abdominal blunt trauma. The spleen emerged as the organ most frequently affected. Of the patients, 28 underwent conservative management, while 22 required surgical intervention. Conclusion:In cases of blunt trauma to the abdomen, the early hours following injury are critically significant and represent a crucial window, often referred to as the golden period of trauma, associated with higher survival rates. Timely intervention andappropriate management during this phase have been shown to significantly decrease morbidity and mortality rates associated with blunt trauma abdomenandappropriate management during this phase have been shown to significantly decrease morbidity and mortality rates associated with blunt trauma abdomen.