Bowel injury in children: high-risk mechanisms and CT findings

Excerpt

Bowel and mesenteric injuries are, fortunately, uncommon complications of blunt abdominal trauma, occurring in 6–16% of injured children and adults. However, unlike injury to solid organs in which operative intervention is rarely necessary, injury to hollow viscera often requires early surgical repair. Delayed diagnosis can result in bowel ischemia, peritonitis and sepsis. Imaging plays a key role in the early and accurate identification of these lesions. This review will focus on high-risk mechanisms of injury and physical findings, as well as the frequency, sensitivity and specificity of CT findings of significant bowel and mesenteric injuries. …