HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Etensel, B Articles by Erkus, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Etensel, B Articles by Erkus, M Related Collections Other accident and emergency medicine Gastrointestinal Surgery Related Article

The effect of blunt abdominal trauma on appendix vermiformis

M Yazc

S Özksack

M Erku

Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pathology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydn, Turkey

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr B Etensel
Adnan Menderes Universitesi, Tp Fakultesi, Cocuk Cerrahisi Anabilim Dal, 09100 Aydn, Turkey; betensel{at}adu.edu.tr

Objectives: Trauma and appendicitis are the most common conditions of childhood for which surgical consultation is sought in emergency departments. Occasionally, appendicitis and trauma exist together, which causes an interesting debate whether trauma has led to appendicitis. We aimed to evaluate our patients with traumatic appendicitis and to discuss their properties in the light of the literature.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of children of blunt abdominal trauma accompanied by appendicitis.

Results: Of 29 cases of blunt abdominal trauma that had required surgical exploration, five were found to have gross findings of acute appendicitis and underwent appendicectomy. Appendicitis was confirmed histopathologically.

Conclusion: It should be kept in mind that children managed for severe blunt abdominal trauma may develop appendicitis. If clinical outlook suggests appendicitis in cases conservatively managed for blunt abdominal trauma, physical examinations, abdominal ultrasonography and/or abdominal computed tomography should be repeated for diagnosis of traumatic appendicitis. This approach will help to protect the patients against the complications of appendicitis that are likely to develop.

Abbreviations: BAT, blunt abdominal trauma; CT, computed tomography; ED, emergency department; IAP, intra-abdominal pressure; TA, traumatic appendicitis; WBC, white blood cell count

Keywords: blunt abdominal trauma; traumatic appendicitis; abdominal compartment syndrome

Related Article

Primary Survey

Geoff Hughes
Emerg. Med. J. 2005 22: 837. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]