Small bowel blunt injuries: what has changed with the advancement in the diagnosis with multislice computed tomography?

• Grant number: 12/17953-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Pereira Fraga
• Grantee: Raquel Oliveira Menna Barreto de Araújo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The small intestine occupies the peritoneal cavity and is the organ most affected by penetrating abdominal trauma and may also be injured by blunt trauma, in which case it is the third most affected organ. In these situations the diagnosis of the lesion is more difficult, since the patient may be suffering from an altered level of consciousness or be under the influence of drugs which affect their sensitivity to pain, making the physical examination unreliable. So we resort to additional tests like ultrasound, CT, diagnostic peritoneal lavage and diagnostic laparoscopy. Even with several possible tests, the diagnosis is still difficult, since not all of them have adequate precision and sensitivity for lesions of hollow viscera. That said, this study aims to analyze the profile of blunt abdominal trauma patients with an injury to the small intestine, evaluating the CT findings and the morbidity/mortality rates. A retrospective, descriptive study of the cases treated at the Hospital de Clínicas of Unicamp, by the Division of Trauma Surgery, from 1994 to2012, will be carried out.