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. 1991 Jun;213(6):540–548. doi: 10.1097/00000658-199106000-00003

Factors affecting morbidity following hepatic trauma. A prospective analysis of 482 injuries.

T C Fabian 1, M A Croce 1, G G Stanford 1, L W Payne 1, E C Mangiante 1, G R Voeller 1, K A Kudsk 1
PMCID: PMC1358571  PMID: 2039284

Abstract

During a 5-year period, 482 patients with liver injuries were studied prospectively: 65% resulted from penetrating and 35% from blunt injuries. The injuries were graded by the hepatic injury scale (grades I to VI); transfusion requirements and perihepatic abscesses correlated with increasing scores. Minor surgical techniques were needed in 338 patients and 144 patients required major techniques. Omental packing was used in 60% of the major injuries and yielded 7% mortality and 8% abscess rates. Gauze packs were used for management of 10% of major injuries and yielded 29% mortality and 30% abscess rates. The patients were randomized to no drain, closed suction, or sump drainage and respective perihepatic abscess rates were 6.7%, 3.5%, and 13% (p less than 0.03; suction compared to closed suction). Multivariate analysis demonstrated increasing abdominal trauma indices and transfusion requirements as well as sump drainage to be associated independently with perihepatic infection.

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Selected References

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