POSTTRAUMATIC SMALL-BOWEL STRICTURE - A CASE-REPORT

The use of lap seat belts has recently been recognized as a mechanism of blunt injury to the small bowel. Patients usually present immediate ly after injury and require urgent laparotomy. An unusual case of dela yed small-bowel structure after conservative management of an injury r esulting from blunt trauma is reported. A 37-year-old woman involved i n a high-speed motor vehicle accident was managed in hospital by obser vation. She had abdominal distension and pain., which gradually decrea sed and allowed slow introduction of a liquid diet. She was discharged from hospital but returned 6 weeks after injury with pain, abdominal distension, vomiting and obstipation. Structure of an 8-cm segment of distal jejunum was found. Resection of the involved segment with prima ry anastomosis was curative.