Up-to-date management of patients with blunt abdominal trauma

Abstract

Background: In the last few years new approaches to the diagnosis and management of abdominal trauma were introduced, and in addition, monitoring of individual organ function in the intensive care units has become an almost daily practice. In our article we review the principles of assessment and management of injured individual abdominal organs from surgical and intensive care medicine’s point of view. Conclusions: Appropriate diagnostics and, precise and timely decision for surgery are the most important factors in the management of patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The mechanism of injury, presence of concomitant injuries, lifethreatening condition and competence of medical staff have to be taken into consideration. The most often injured organs, spleen and liver, are nowadays managed mostly non-operatively. Such an approach has resulted in an increased admission of patients to the intensive care unit, with an attempt to prevent secondary organ dysfunction and multiple-organ failure. These new treatment options have contributed to lower morbidity and mortality and improved quality of life.