Blunt liver trauma in Mulago Hospital

Abstract

Background: The paper presents 51 patients with blunt liver injury in Mulago national referral and teaching Hospital for Makerere University between Jan.1998-Jan.2003. Objectives: This study was aimed at finding the epidemiology, treatment and outcome of blunt liver injuries in Mulago Hospital.

Methods: This was a retrospective study done using Hospital records of patients with liver trauma treated at Mulago Hospital from January 1998 to January 2003.

Results: There were a total of 51 patients with liver injury. The male to female ratio was 17:1. The average age was 37 years, 39 patients had positive "peritoneal movement test", 30 patients had positive 4-quadrant tap, and 30 patients had at least 3 more injuries. None of the patients had Ultra Sound or Computerized Tomography (CT). All 51 patients had a laparotomy. At laparotomy, in 28 patients nothing was done to the liver, in 10 patients the liver as sutured, in 8 patients the liver was packed and in 4 non-anatomical resection of the liver was done. No liver transplantation was done. The commonest complications were fever (40 patients) jaundice (30 patients). 10 patients died (20%).

Conclusion: Ultra sound or CT scan wound allow the haemodynamically stable patients to be treated non-operatively. The mortality rate of 20% is higher than in other series reported.