Gastric injuries: a rare surgical event due to blunt abdominal trauma

Background/aims

Gastric rupture from blunt abdominal trauma is rare occurrence. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of patients with blunt trauma to the stomach.

Materials and methods

In a retrospective review of hospitals records of two trauma-admitting hospitals, 10 patients were identified. The main cause of blunt gastric injury was motor vehicle accident.

Results

All patients presenting usually with clinical signs warranting early laparotomy. There were six full-thickness, and two partial thickness gastric injuries located in the anterior wall in eight cases. All injuries could be managed with simple surgical techniques without resections. Two patients exsanguinated on the operating table from associated injuries. All but one of the survivors had postoperative complications with a mean hospital length of stay of 18.4 ± 7.6 (range 10–30) days.

Conclusion

Blunt gastric injury is usually diagnosed at laparotomy for associated injuries but occasionally may he suspected from specific clinical findings. In most cases the injury is on the anterior wall. Simple repair is usually sufficient and the prognosis depends on the severity of the associated injuries.