Blunt Solid Organ Injuries in Children

Abstract

It is reported that the incidence of solid organ injuries in children with blunt abdominal trauma varies from 4% to 8% depending on the site of injury and the mode of impact. Most cases of solid organ injuries in children are minor grade, with only few injuries involving major parenchymal or vascular disruptions. The optimal management of pediatric patients with solid organ injury has shifted toward nonoperative management. But the management of high-grade injuries remains poorly defined and relies heavily on associated factors. This paradigm shift in treatment protocol of solid organ injury has many advantages. It means reducing the hospital stay and cost and less operative and postoperative complications for patients. It also means management “at home” or with the primary care pediatrician, thereby allowing intensivist and pediatric surgeon to allocate ample amount of time to more critical cases. Since children are usually healthy, with not many comorbid conditions and hardly on any medications, they are able to withstand the hemodynamic instability much better than adults [1].