• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.176-180
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• 2019

The growing use of laparoscopy in elective surgery has led to its increase utilization in emergency surgery. However, the employment of laparoscopy in abdominal trauma is still unusual. Here in we report a case of a patient with blunt abdominal trauma that resulted in a combination of exceptional traumatic lesions, diaphragmatic and bladder lacerations. Both injuries were diagnosed and successfully resolved by laparoscopy. The report of this type of lesions and resolution is extremely rare, being this the second case described in the international literature. This article intends to show that laparoscopy may not only be used as a diagnostic tool, but also as a therapeutic instrument in selected cases of blunt abdominal trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

Purpose: The liver is the second most common organ injured by blunt abdominal trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of liver transaminase in screening blunt abdominal trauma patients for traumatic liver injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 231 patients who sustained blunt trauma and were at risk for traumatic liver injury between June 2009 and August 2010. All of them underwent a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Based on the diagnosis of abdominal CT, patients were divided into two groups: group I with liver injury and group II without liver injury. We compared the two groups and calculated the sensitivity, the specificity and the predictive values of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by using multiple cutoff values. Results: Of 231 patients with no abdominal free fluid in the FAST, 33 had traumatic liver injury on abdominal CT. The mean AST and ALT levels in group I (311.6 IU/L and 228.1 IU/L, respectively) were significantly higher than the values in group II (48.4 IU/L and 35.6 IU/L, respectively). The cutoff to distinguish liver injury is 60 IU/L for AST and 58 IU/L for ALT, with 93.8% sensitivity and 79.8% specificity for AST, and 90.6% sensitivity and 87.4% specificity for ALT. Conclusion: We recommend that all patient with suspected blunt abdominal trauma be evaluated using serum liver transaminase as a screening test for liver injury even though no abdominal free fluid is shown on the FAST. If AST > 60 IU/L and/or ALT > 58 IU/L, abdominal CT was useful to confirm liver injury in this study.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.87-90
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• 2012

Blunt diaphragmatic rupture (BDR) is a relatively rare injury and occurs in 0.8% to 7% of all thorocoabdominal blunt trauma. Especially right diaphragmatic rupture after blunt abdominal trauma is a rarer than left. The diagnosis of BDR can be missed while evaluating the multiple trauma patient. Other severe injuries may mask BDR during the primary resuscitation and survey. We experienced two cases of traumatic rupture of right diaphragm, one diagnosed immediately and the other diagnosed delayed. In this paper we present two cases of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1167-1173
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• 1995

We evaluated fifty three cases of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries that we have experienced from Jan.1973 to Oct.1994. The age distribution of the pateint was ranged from 1 to 74 years. Sex ratio is 39:14 with male dominence. The traumatic diaphragmatic injuries were due to blunt trauma in 37[Left 22, Right 15 cases and penetrating trauma in 16[Left 9, Right 7 cases. In blunt trauma, Preoperative diagnosis of the diaphragmatic injuries was possible in 27 patients[72% , and in penetrating trauma, 14 patients[88% . Among 37 in blunt traumas, 22[58% cases, and among 16 in penetrating traumas, 13[88% cases were operated within 24 hours. The most common herniated abdominal organ in the thorax was stomach[14/53 . The traumatic diaphragmatic repair of 50 cases were performed by thoracic approach in 23 cases, thoracoabdominal approach in 8 cases and abdominal approach in 19 cases, and in 3 cases, not operated. Hospital mortality [including not operated patients[3 was 17%[9/53 and the causes of death were intracranial hematoma[1 , hypertensive encephalopathy[1 and asphyxia[1 , and among operated patients[6 , combined head injury[2 , multiorgan failure[2 , hypovolemic shock[1 , and pulmonary edema & renal failure[1 . All deaths had related to the severity of associated injuries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.31-33
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• 2015

Traumatic aortic injury is well recognized as a primary cause of instantaneous death in victims of thoracic blunt trauma presenting with an aortic rupture or dissection, particularly after a deceleration injury. However, a direct aortic injury caused by a fractured rib segment after blunt thoracic trauma is extremely rare. We report the case of a 43-year-old male patient who experienced an aortic injury caused by the sharp edge of a fractured rib after multiple rib fractures due to blunt thoracic trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 1979

Chest injuries due to blunt trauma often result in severe derangements that lead to death. And we have to diagnose and treat the patients who have blunt chest trauma immediately and appropriately. A clinical analysis was made on 324 cases of chest injury due to blunt trauma experienced at department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University during 8-year period from 1972 to 1979. Of 324 patients of blunt chest injuries, there were 189 cases of rib fracture, 121 of hemothorax or/and pneumothorax, 108 of soft tissue injury of the chest wall only, 41 of lung contusion, 24 of flail chest, 13 of scapular fracture, 7 of diaphragmatic rupture and others. The majority of blunt chest injury patients were traffic accident victims and falls accounted for the next largest group of accidents. Chest injuries were frequently encountered in the age group between 3rd decade and 4th decade [60%] and 238 patients were male comparing to 86 of female [Male: Female = 3:1 ]. In the patients who have the more number of fractured ribs, the more incidence of intrathoracic injury and intraabdominal organ damage were found. The principal associated injuries were head injury on 58 cases, long bone fractures on 37, skull fractures on 12, pelvic fractures on 10, renal injuries on 6 and intraabdominal organ injuries on 5 patients. The principle of early treatment of chest injury due to blunt trauma were rapid reexpansion of the lung by closed thoracotomy which was indicated on 96 cases, but open thoractomy was necessary on 14 cases because massive bleeding, intrapleural hematoma and/or fibrothorax, or diaphragmatic laceration-On 15 cases who were young and have multiple rib fracture with severe dislocation delayed elective open reduction of the fractured ribs with wire was done on the purpose of preserving normal active life. The over all mortality was 2.8% [9 of 324 cases] due to head injury on 3 cases, massive bleeding on 2,wet lung syndrome, acute renal failure on 1 and septicemia on 1 patient.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.235-237
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• 2017

Hepatic hemangioma is the most frequently occurring benign tumor of the liver. Hepatic hemangioma rupture is a rare phenomenon, which can lead to life-threatening conditions. Here, we report a case of hepatic hemangioma rupture caused by blunt trauma. Explorative laparotomy was performed due to unstable vital signs and abdominal massive hemoperitoneum revealed on computed tomography. We detected arterial bleeding from a hepatic hemangioma and performed primary suture of the liver and postoperative angiographic embolization.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.218-226
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• 2009

Purpose: In multiple blunt trauma patients, transfusion may be a significant therapeutic adjunct to non-operative management. The blood products must be expedited and efficiently to patients in impending shock caused by hemorrhage or traumatic coagulopathy, but the decision to perform blood transfusion has been made empirically, based on the clinician' and has not been guided by objective parameters, but own opinion, that may result in an underestimate of or a failure to detect bleeding, in delayed transfusion, and in a reduced outcome. This article presents quickly assessable predictive factors for determining if a blood transfusion is required to improve outcomes in multiple blunt trauma patients admitted to the emergency room. Methods: In a retrospective review of 282 multiple blunt trauma patients who visited our emergency center by emergency rescuer during a 1-year period, possible factors predictive of the need for a blood transfusion were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of blunt trauma patients, 9.2% (26/282), received red blood cells in the first 24 hours of care. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between blood transfused and heart rate (HR) > 100 beats/min, respiratory rate (RR) > 20 breaths/min, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 14, Revised Trauma Score (RTS) < 11, white blood cell count (WBC) < 4000 or > 10000, and initial abnormal portable trauma series (Cspine lateral, chest AP, pelvis AP). A multiple regression analysis, with a correction for diagnosis, identified HR > 100 beats/min (EXP 3.2), GCS < 14 (EXP 4.1), and abnormal trauma series (EXP 2.9), as independent predictors. Conclusion: In our study, systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 90 mmHg, old age > 65 years, hemoglobin < 13g/dL, mechanism of injury were poor predictors of early blood transfusion. Initial abnormal portable trauma series, HR > 100 beats/min, and GCS < 14 were quickly assessable useful factors for predicting a need for early blood transfusion in blunt trauma patients visiting the emergency room.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.211-214
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• 2014

A 34-year-old woman experienced a sudden cardiac arrest after complaining of abdominal pain. The cause of that serious event was a hidden hemorrhagic shock. On computed tomography of her pelvic area, we found that her left common iliac artery had been ruptured. No bone fractures were observed. Her angiography showed neither atherosclerosis nor an aneurysm of the artery. Because spontaneous ruptures of the common iliac artery are rare, we suspected, based on her husband's statement, that a hidden blunt trauma to the artery had occurred via an endo-vaginal route due to dildo masturbation. Unfortunately, she died without recovery, in spite of our having controlled the bleeding by using an angiographic endovascular stent-graft.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 1996

The management of twenty-two children with blunt abdominal trauma was analyzed. Nineteen cases had intraabdominal injuries; involving the spleen in 7 cases, the liver in 5, the pancreas in one and the bladder in one. There were five case multiple intraabdominal organ injuries. Seventeen out of 19 patients were treated non-operatively, but one was operated upon later because of delayed bleeding. Thirteen patients required transfusion in the non operated group, the mean values of the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) was 11.3. The mean lowest hemoglobulin(LHb) was 9.1 g/dL. The mean value of three cases with extraabdominal injuries were 9.0 and 8.3 g/dL respectively. The average amount of transfusion was 17.3 ml/kg. In the operated group, 2 cases were transfused an average of 139.8 ml/kg and their mean PTS was 5 and LHb was 6.6 g/dL. In one out of 16 non-operated cases, intrahepatic hematoma developed and but resolved conservatively. However, two out of 3 operated cases suffer complications such as an intubation granuloma and an intraabdominal abscess with wound dehescence. In conclusion, non-operative management in child with blunt abdominal trauma was safe in Grade I and II solid organ injuries. The decision for operation should be based on the hemodynamic stability after initial resuscitation including transfusion.