Pancreatic injuries in children

Pancreatic injuries over an 11-year period were reviewed. Pedestrian motor vehicle accidents accounted for 45% of the injuries. Diagnosis was made clinically and on raised serial serum amylase levels. Eighty per cent of the patients were managed conservatively. Two patients required emergency surgery for pancreatic trauma. There were no deaths. It is concluded that a conservative approach is successful in most paediatric patients with pancreatic trauma.