Blunt hepatic injury and elevated hepatic enzymes: a clinical correlation in children

During a recent prospective nonrandomized comparison of noninvasive imaging techniques in 100 children with suspected major blunt abdominal injury, an interesting subset of patients was defined. Of 95 hemodynamically stable patients, 44 were found to have immediate elevation of hepatic enzymes (SGOT, SGPT greater than 30 IU). Nineteen of these children (43%) were subsequently shown to have significant liver injuries. No child with a liver injury had normal enzymes on admission. The level of enzyme elevation (SGOT chi 890 +/- 142 IU, SGPT chi 536 +/- 105 IU) in those with liver injuries is significantly greater than those without injury (SGOT chi 273 +/- 44 IU, SGPT chi 115 +/- 19 IU) (P less than or equal to 0.0001 SGOT. P less than or equal to 0.0001 SGPT). Our study has allowed definition of a group of children who are at significant risk for liver injury based on immediately available serum determinations of GOT and GPT. We have begun to use this information in our institution to select children for further noninvasive imaging. We recommend that these studies be obtained emergently in all children with suspected upper abdominal trauma.