LAPAROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF BLUNT ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA IN CHILDREN

This study evaluates the safety and role of laparoscopy in the diagnos is of blunt abdominal trauma in children. Laparoscopy was performed in five patients aged 3 to 13 years because of persistent abdominal pain after blunt trauma. A laparotomy was not indicated from the physical examination, laboratory data, or radiologic findings. With the patient under general anesthesia, a 10-mm trocar was inserted through the umb ilical fossa and the intra-abdominal organs were observed for 10-60 mi n under an insufflation pressure of 10-12 mmHg. The patients remained hemodynamically stable without pneumothorax development. Three patient s underwent laparatomies: one, who had blood in the omental sac, had a duodenal injury with hemorrhagic necrosis and underwent a resection; one with ascites and high amylase levels had an injury of the main pan creatic duct and underwent resection of the pancreatic tail; and one w ho had fresh blood in the upper abdomen and Douglas' pouch had a splen ic hemorrhage and underwent hemostasis. The other two had serous or se rosanguinous ascites and recovered without surgery. In patient 1, the same amount of information might have been obtained from a barium stud y. In patient 2, the pancreatic transection might have been diagnosed from ascites shown on serial computed tomograms. Patient 3 might also have been treated successfully non-surgically. It hus appears that lap aroscopy may be a safe diagnostic method for blunt abdominal trauma in children, however, this small series has yielded insufficient informa tion to assess its usefulness in making the diagnosis and the decision for laparotomy. Further studies are required to ascertain whether it will make any significant difference in the form of management.