Radiological evaluation of visceral injuries in the battered child syndrome

Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in the recognition, evaluation, and follow-up of visceral injuries in the battered child syndrome. Conventional radiography is important for the diagnosis of associated skeletal fractures, pulmonary parenchymal injury, gastric dilatation, and pneumoperitoneum. An upper gastrointestinal series is the examination of choice in suspected intramural duodenal hematoma. Ultrasonography is helpful in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal hematoma, acute traumatic pancreatitis, and pancreatic pseudocyst. Nuclear scintigraphy is valuable if injury is limited to the liver or spleen. CT is the imaging modality of choice for assessing generalized blunt abdominal trauma as well as evaluating the extent of injuries to the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and mesentery.     

Splenic salvage in children with blunt pancreatic transection

Delayed recognition of pancreatic transection after blunt abdominal trauma contributes significantly to the high morbidity and mortality of this lesion. The classical treatment of this injury has been distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Over the past 5 years, we have treated six children with complete transection of the pancreas due to blunt trauma to the abdomen. Computed tomography (CT) was useful in defining the site of transection in two of three patients. Three children had a delay in diagnosis of 3–49 days; they all developed complications (e. g. pseudocyst, abscess, fistula) prior to definitive surgery. The spleen was salvaged in all sic patients: five had partial pancreatectomy and one had cystogastrostomy. Following pancreatic resection, there was no morbidity or pancreatic insufficiency over an average follow-up period of 40 months. The mortality in this series was 0%. When pancreatic injury is suspected in blunt abdominal trauma, CT is recommended for early diagnosis of pancreatic transection. In stable patients with this injury, distal pancreatectomy with splenic salvage is a feasible and effective treatment that preserves adequate pancreatic function and lowers the incidence of complications. Offprint requests to: A. J. Razzouk     

Pediatric abdominal trauma: evaluation by computed tomography

When indications for immediate laparotomy are not present, CT of the abdomen and pelvis can be used to evaluate pediatric blunt abdominal trauma. During 2-year period, the medical records and abdominal/pelvic CT scans of 100 consecutive pediatric patients who were evaluated for blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively reviewed. The scans appeared normal for 73 children. Of these children, 30 had severe head injuries and a depressed sensorium. A total of 27 abdominal/pelvic CT scans were interpreted as abnormal. Findings included nine splenic fractures, six renal contusions, nine hepatic lacerations, one duodenal hematoma, one traumatic pancreatitis, four bony injuries, six miscellaneous abnormalities, and one intraperitoneal bleed. Only two of these 27 patients required abdominal surgery. The remaining 25 patients were treated conservatively based upon a stable clinical state and CT delineation of the extent of injury. No mortality resulted. CT is the radiographic examination of choice for hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with blunt abdominal trauma. CT provided a reliable adjunct examination technique when a physical examination could not be performed and a complete history could not be obtained. The extent of abdominal/pelvic injuries is well delineated and can often be followed by diagnostic imaging, usually allowing for conservative therapy.     

Current management of liver and splenic blunt trauma in children

Thirty-nine children with blunt liver and/or splenic injury were treated in our department from 1979 to 1987; 23 had a splenic injury, 10 a hepatic injury, and the remaining 6 had both. The diagnosis was suggested by the history and physical examination and was confirmed by CT and radioisotope scanning. Every hemodynamically stable patient was initially managed non-operatively. The children who failed to respond to conservative treatment and had unstable vital signs indicating intractable hemorrhage were eventually operated upon. Every effort was made to preserve the liver and spleen during the operation. Liver repair, splenorraphy alone or in combination with splenic artery ligation, and autotransplantation of splenic tissue were widely used procedures. Sixteen patients were successfully managed nonoperatively, but the remaining 23 required surgery. Only 5 children became completely asplenic and no liver lobe resection was performed. It is suggested that conservative management of children with liver and/or splenic injury is both safe and effective. When surgical intervention is inevitable great effort should be made to preserve liver and spleen.Presented at the XII International Congress of Greek Association of Paediatric Surgeons in Rhodes, 1987 Offprint requests to: G. Tryfonas     

Diagnostic imaging in the follow-up of nonoperative management of splenic trauma in children

The spleen is the most frequently injured organ in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is approximately 95% sensitive and specific for detection of splenic injury. In children, nonoperative treatment is well-established. The basic tenet of such management is an obligatory period of rest to prevent recurrent bleeding and allow splenic healing. Splenic preservation prevents post-splenectomy sepsis. At our level I trauma center, pediatric patients (N=54) with BAT between 1993 and 1998 were retrospectively studied. Two (3.7%) died of associated injuries; 2 underwent splenectomy before transfer to our hospital. All had been diagnosed with splenic injury by CT. The mean age was 11.3 years. The mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle accidents (66%), bicycle accidents (26%), and falls (8%). All 50 remaining patients were followed by ultrasound (US) after the initial diagnosis by CT. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. One patient developed the rare complication of an arterio venous (AV) fistula within the damaged spleen; 47 (94%) had normal, homogeneous parenchymal echogenicity at healing (including the patient with the AV fistula). The remaining 3 demonstrated a visible echogenic scar. Imaging documentation of healing blunt splenic trauma should ideally minimize cost and relative risk. Our results add further evidence that US is well-suited to the task. No delayed complications with this approach were recorded in this series.     

Blunt abdominal trauma in children: epidemiology, management, and management problems in a developing country

Trauma is the leading cause of death in children in developed countries. In tropical Africa, it is only beginning to assume importance as infections and malnutrition are controlled. In developed countries, the availability of advanced imaging modalities has now reduced the necessity for laparotomy to less than 10% following blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) in children. This report reviews the epidemiology, management, and unnecessary laparotomies for pediatric BAT in a developing country in a retrospective review of 57 children aged 15 years or less at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria over 12 years. The average age was 9 years and the male-female ratio 3.8:1. Seventy-four percent (74%) of abdominal injuries in children were due to blunt trauma. The commonest causes of injury were road traffic accidents (RTA) (57%), 88% in pedestrians and 59% in children aged 5–9 years. Falls were the cause of trauma in 36%, 60% of them aged 10–15 years. Other causes of injury were sports in 5% and animals in 2%. Diagnosis was clinical, supported by diagnostic peritoneal lavage or paracentesis. Two patients had ultrasonography, and none had computed tomography. Fifty-three patients had a laparotomy, 2 died before surgery, 1 was managed nonoperatively, and in 1 surgery was declined. There were 34 splenic injuries, 20 treated by splenic preservation, splenectomy in 13, and non-operative in 1. Fourteen gastrointestinal injuries were treated in 12 patients. Of 9 hepatic injuries, 4 were minor and were left untreated, 3 were repaired, 1 was packed to arrest hemorhage, and a lacerated accesory liver was excised. Four injuries to the urinary tract (bladder contusion 2, bladder rupture 1, ruptured hydronephrotic kidney 1) were treated accordingly. There were 4 retroperitoneal hematomas associated with other intra-abdominal injuries and 2 pancreatic contusions. One lacerated gallbladder was treated by cholecystectomy and a ruptured left hemidiaphragm was repaired transperitoneally. In retrospect, 27 (51%) patients could have been managed by observation (splenic injury 20, liver injury 5, bladder contusion 2) using advanced imaging modalities. One patient developed an intra-abdominal abscess following splenorrhaphy. The average hospital stay was 17 days. Mortality was 8 (14.5%) from gastric perforation (3), liver injury (2), splenic injury (1), and 2 patients died before surgery. BAT in this population results predominantly from RTA in pedestrians. Laparotomy may be avoided in 51% of cases if advanced imaging modalities are readily available. Accepted: 28 October 1999     

Blunt injury to solid abdominal organs

Injuries to the solid abdominal viscera (spleen, liver, kidney, pancreas) are common in children sustaining trauma by blunt mechanisms. Success with nonoperative management of these injuries has led to recent extensions of this approach to the management of higher-grade more complicated injuries typically treated operatively. This review will discuss the current status of evaluation, management and outcome of children sustaining blunt injury to solid abdominal organs.     

Splenic trauma in the pediatric patient: the integrated roles of ultrasound and computed tomography

Seven children who sustained splenic trauma were scanned by ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound and nuclear liver/spleen scan. All patients were managed conservatively and did not need abdominal surgery. On the initial sonogram, the majority of children had multiple areas of both increased and decreased echogenicity. Hematomas were followed to resolution in five of seven children and were usually multiple and hypoechoic prior to complete disappearance. On contrast-enhanced CT scans, areas of splenic hemorrhage appeared as low attenuation. Our small patient population demonstrates that, following an initial CT scan, sonography is helpful for sequential splenic imaging to show when the appearance of the spleen returns to normal. When correlated with the clinical information, such data are helpful to the clinician in determining when a child who has sustained splenic trauma may resume normal activity.     

Splenic infarction at low altitude in a child with hemoglobin S-C disease

We describe a 15-year-old black boy with hemoglobin S-C disease living in Atlanta (altitude 1,034 ft), with no prior history of aircraft or mountain travel, who developed splenic infarction. The clinical picture was characterized by severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain, fever, splenomegaly, and hematologic and scintigraphic evidence of functional asplenia. The diagnosis was suggested by liver/spleen scintigraphy and further confirmed by ultrasonography and computerized tomography (CT) of the spleen. Treatment consisted of analgesics, intravenous fluids, and short-term antibiotic therapy. The child recovered without sequelae.     

Follow-up imaging studies in children with splenic injuries.

We undertook a retrospective study of pediatric blunt splenic injuries treated nonoperatively at our institution from 1990 to 1995 (n = 72) to assess the impact of serial computed tomography (CT) scans on the outcome. Median number of studies per child was three. The result showed that the appearance of the splenic injury remained unchanged or improved in 95% of the imaging studies obtained (116 of 122). Only one of five patients with an image suggesting a worsening splenic injury required operative intervention. There were no instances of missed injuries, delayed ruptures, or readmissions. We conclude that serial CT scans have limited follow-up value and should be used selectively.     

Re-evaluation of liver transaminase cutoff for CT after pediatric blunt abdominal trauma

Purpose

Current guidelines for computed tomography (CT) after blunt trauma were developed to capture all intra-abdominal injuries (IAI). We hypothesize that current AST/ALT guidelines are too low leading to unnecessary CT scans for children after blunt abdominal trauma (BAT).

Methods

Patients who received CT of the abdomen after blunt trauma at our Level I Pediatric Trauma Center were stratified into a high risk (HR) (liver/spleen/kidney grade ≥III, hollow viscous, or pancreatic injuries) and low risk (LR) (liver/kidney/spleen injuries grade ≤II, or no IAI) groups.

Results

247 patients were included. Of the 18 patients in the HR group, two required surgery (splenectomy and sigmoidectomy). Transfusion was required in 30% of grade III and 50% of grade IV injuries. Eleven (5%) patients in LR group were transfused for indications other than IAI, and none were explored surgically. Both AST (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and ALT (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) correlated with grade of liver injury. Using an increased threshold of AST/ALT, 400/200 had a negative predictive value of 96% in predicting the presence of HR liver injuries.

Conclusion

The current cutoff of liver enzymes leads to over-identification of LR injuries. Consideration should be given to an approach that aims to utilize CT in pediatric BAT that identifies clinically HR injury.

     

Paediatric blunt abdominal trauma: challenges of management in a developing country.

BACKGROUND: In developed countries, the availability of advanced imaging techniques has reduced the necessity for laparotomy following blunt abdominal trauma in children. Laparotomy rates still remain high in developing countries where these advanced imaging techniques are lacking. A simple management protocol to identify patients who require laparotomy could reduce the laparotomy rate in children with blunt abdominal trauma in these countries. PATIENTS/METHODS: This is a review of children aged 15 years or below managed in our institution over a 5 1/2-year period for blunt abdominal trauma. The children were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of children managed from January 1999 - December 2000. During this period, there was no protocol. Group B consisted of children managed from January 2001 - June 2004. During this period, a simple management protocol was introduced. The laparotomy rates in the two groups were analysed using a simple chi-square. RESULTS: A total of 48 children, representing 63 % of children with abdominal trauma during the study period, were examined (Group A 17; Group B 31). Their ages ranged from 1.5 years - 15 years (median 9 years). Thirty-four were boys, 14 were girls (M:F = 2.4:1). Road traffic accidents accounted for 38 (79.1 %) and falls from heights for 9 cases (18.75 %), and one boy with a hydronephrotic kidney fell off the staircase at home. The diagnosis was clinical, supported by abdominal ultrasound scan (USS) and plain abdominal film. Twenty-eight (58.3 %) children had laparotomy (15 in Group A; 13 in Group B). There was a statistically significant difference in the laparotomy rates between Group A and B (p < 0.01). Nineteen children were managed nonoperatively (2 in Group A; 17 in Group B); one child died before an operation could be performed. There were 59 abdominal organ injuries in 45 children. In 2 children, ultrasound could not diagnose any organ injury. There were 33 splenic injuries; 15 children had splenic conservation, 7 underwent a splenectomy, while 10 were managed nonoperatively. One child with splenic injury died before operation. Of 7 liver injuries, 4 required suturing of lacerations, 1 subcapsular haematoma was left undisturbed at laparotomy, while 2 were managed nonoperatively. There were 4 pancreatic injuries. Three were managed nonoperatively, while 1 associated with duodenal injury had a laparotomy. All 6 gastrointestinal injuries had laparotomy. There were 5 renal injuries: 3 had laparotomy with suturing, while 2 were managed nonoperatively. There were 4 bladder injuries: 2 had laparotomy with suprapubic catheter insertion, while 2 were managed nonoperatively. There were 7 retroperitoneal haematomas in association with other organ injuries. Associated injuries included head injury in 2, long bone fracture in 2, spinal injury and chest trauma in 1 each. There were 4 deaths, 1 before surgery could be performed. CONCLUSION: Blunt abdominal trauma in children resulted mainly from road traffic accidents. The use of a simple protocol supported by ultrasound scan could reduce the laparotomy rate in countries with limited facilities.     

Nonoperative management of intra-abdominal bleeding due to blunt trauma in children: the risk of missed associated intestinal injuries

Nonoperative management of intra-abdominal bleeding (IAB) from blunt injuries in children has been advocated for many years. Nonoperatively managed patients, however, are at risk for missed associated intestinal injuries. To evaluate this question, we reviewed the charts of 120 children who had traumatic IAB; 106 were initially managed nonoperatively and observation failed in 2. Fourteen underwent emergency operation. Forty patients had isolated liver and/or splenic injuries while the others had injuries associated with several organs. During observation peritonitis developed in 3 patients and further radiologic examinations failed to confirm an intestinal injury. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage demonstrated contaminated blood and fecal particles from injured intestines in 3 patients; they underwent emergency operation at 10, and 26 h after admission. There was no mortality or morbidity associated with delayed treatment. These data suggest that the majority of patients with IAB may be successfully treated nonoperatively, but associated intestinal injuries should be suspected in all cases. Accepted: 16 May 1997     

Computed tomography imaging of abdominal trauma in children.

The authors discuss the role of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of children following blunt abdominal trauma. Appropriate techniques for scanning children are described, as well as clinical indications that place children at high risk and low risk for abdominal injury. Examples of both solid organ and bowel injuries are shown, with special emphasis on the correlation of CT appearance and clinical outcomes. The authors conclude that CT is an effective tool for the diagnosis of abdominal injury in the pediatric patient, and that the clinical impact of CT appears to be changing with the increasing use of nonoperative therapy for solid organ injury.     

The value of routine follow-up imaging in pediatric blunt liver trauma

Purpose. To evaluate the utility of routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) and/or ultrasound (US) scans in children with blunt hepatic trauma initially managed non-operatively. Materials and methods. Review of the records of 66 children with proven blunt liver injury on initial CT scan, who were initially managed non-operatively during the period January 1991 to December 1996. Follow-up CT and US studies were analyzed and correlated with clinical outcome. Results. Of the 66 children, 30 were not followed with any imaging study, 26 were followed with US only, 7 with CT only and 3 with US and CT. Disappearance of the liver lesion(s) was seen in 25 patients (range: 6 days – 14 months) and decrease in size was noted in 10. In one patient, who developed abdominal and right shoulder pain 10 days after presentation with subsequent hemoglobin drop, CT showed contrast medium extravasation into a hepatic hematoma from portal vein injury that required surgery. Conclusion. Our series suggests that in asymptomatic patients, US and CT follow-up studies do not provide the additional information needed for patient management. Therefore, we believe that in asymptomatic children with blunt hepatic trauma who are clinically stable, routine follow-up imaging studies are of very limited value. Received: 13 September 1999 Accepted: 6 March 2000     

Wandering spleen in children: a report of 3 cases and a brief literature review underlining the importance of diagnostic imaging

Background

Wandering spleen is a rare condition in children that is often caused by loss or weakening of the splenic ligaments. Its clinical presentation is variable; 64% of children with wandering spleen have splenic torsion as a complication.

Objective

To provide up-to-date information on the diagnosis, clinical management and diagnostic imaging approaches for wandering spleen in infants and children and to underline the importance of color Doppler US and CT in providing important information for patient management.

Materials and methods

We report a series of three children with wandering spleen treated at our children’s hospital over the last 6 years. All three underwent clinical evaluation, color Doppler US and CT and were surgically treated. We also reviewed 40 articles that included 55 patients younger than 18 years reported in the Medline database from 2002 to 2012.

Results

We correlated pathological data with imaging findings. Color Doppler US, the first imaging modality in investigating abdominal symptoms in children with suspected wandering spleen, yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 54.9%, whereas CT achieved about 71.7%.

Conclusion

Radiologic evaluation has a major role in confirming the diagnosis of a suspected wandering spleen and avoiding potentially life-threatening complications requiring immediate surgery.     

Blunt abdominal trauma and hollow viscus injury in children: the diagnostic value of plain radiography

Although blunt abdominal trauma is common in children, the G-I tract is involved only rarely. However, this paper deals with a series of 24 cases in whom a hollow viscus was injured. We present the radiological and operative findings as well as the results of subsequent radiological workup in patients who had no surgery. Contrary to the recent trend which stresses early abdominal CT as critically important for guiding treatment we have retained a more conservative attitude. Our present protocol includes plain radiography frequently combined with sonographic screening of the abdomen. In patients with stable vital signs and when necessary, we follow up with scintigraphy. CT is reserved for complicated cases with obscure clinical manifestations which do not fit the plain radiological findings and also cases running an unexpected course.     

儿童腹部损伤的诊断与治疗

目的 探讨儿童腹部损伤的保守治疗及手术探查的指征,提高儿童腹部损伤的诊疗水平.方法 回顾性分析我院89例腹部损伤患儿的临床资料,根据损伤部位情况进行分类,并逐一对其进行分析.结果 (1)89例腹部损伤患儿中,25例肝损伤,1例行剖腹探查;48例脾损伤,46例保守治疗,1例行脾切除术,1例予修补;14例胃肠道损伤,4例急诊剖腹探查,1例住院4 d后出现迟发穿孔;8例胰腺损伤,6例肾、肾上腺挫伤,予保守治疗;1例子宫、膀胱损伤,急诊手术治疗.(2)与成人不同,肝脾损伤患儿绝大多数经保守治疗能治愈,静脉补液后输血仍超过40 ml/kg,且血压不稳定者应及时手术探查.(3)CT检查对怀疑有胃肠道损伤,而不宜行腹部X线立位平片者有重要临床意义,合并气腹或腹胀明显加重,或出现腹膜炎表现的患儿,应及时手术探查,尤其注意迟发消化道穿孔的可能.(4)排除有胰腺横断的患儿,胰腺损伤多应保守治疗.(5)膀胱及子宫损伤患儿,外伤多较严重,需及时剖腹探查.结论 基层医院儿童腹部损伤应高度重视,实质脏器损伤导致的内出血是患儿死亡的最主要原因,空腔脏器损伤延误诊治是导致患儿死亡的另一重要原因,因此,早期准确诊断,积极治疗,以及综合处理其他严重的合并伤、并发症是成功救治该类患儿的关键.     

小儿延迟性脾破裂的诊断与治疗

目的 探讨小儿延迟性脾破裂的发生机理、诊断与治疗。方法 总结１６年来治的６例小儿延迟性脾破裂的临床资料,６例均为腹部闭合性损伤,伤后出现脾破裂症状的时间均在４８小时以上,经腹穿、ＣＴ或了超确诊,手术证实。结果 ６例中５例行脾切除术,１例行脾修补术,术后未发生暴发性感染,均痊愈。结论 小儿延迟性脾破裂容易误诊,应掌握其发生机理,提高对本病的认识和警惕性。有价值的影像学检查是提高诊断率、降低病死率的关     

Blunt renal injuries in Turkish children: a review of 205 cases

A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 205 children with renal injuries secondary to blunt abdominal trauma is used to make recommendations regarding the initial diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in this type of patient. It was found that the absence of hematuria on initial urinalysis does not exclude a serious renal injury. Thus, following blunt abdominal trauma, all children should undergo imaging procedures to exclude renal injury, whether they have hematuria or not. Ultrasound is a good initial screening procedure in all patients. Computed tomography is recommended for the definitive evaluation of suspected major renal injuries. Since even major renal injuries may heal without surgical intervention, conservative management is the recommended initial treatment of choice. Surgery is reserved for those children who are hemodynamically unstable and those that develop complications.