To study the incidence of organ damage and post-operative care in patients of blunt abdominal trauma with haemoperitoneum managed by laparoscopy

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is safe and effective in the management of blunt trauma abdomen (BTA) with haemoperitoneum, with all benefits of minimal access surgery. AIMS: To study the incidence of organ damage and post-operative care in patients of blunt abdominal trauma with haemoperitoneum, managed by a new modality of treatment — laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively collected data on laparoscopy performed in patients with blunt abdominal injury, between the years 2004 to 2006, were analysed. Under general anaesthesia pneumoperitoneum was created. A 10 mm umbilical port, right-sided port in the anterior axillary line (5 mm / 10 mm), left-sided port in the anterior axillary line (5 mm / 10 mm) and an extra port were made according to the organ injury, and laparoscopy was performed and managed according to the organ injury. RESULT: Twenty-five patients had laparoscopy for blunt trauma abdomen with haemoperitoneum. Liver followed by the spleen were the most common sites of injuries. The overall failure rate was 4%. Post-operative stay and complications were much less. Laparoscopy reduced the number of negative laparotomies, with a limitation that it could not be performed in haemodynamically unstable patients. CONCLUSION: The liver and spleen are the most common organs involved in patients with blunt abdominal trauma with haemoperitoneum. Laparoscopy is safe and efficient in patients with blunt trauma abdomen with haemoperitoneum, with fast recovery and low hospital stay.