TRAUMATIC GASTROINTESTINAL INJURIES: AN OVERVIEW OF CLINICAL PROFILE, MODE AND SITE OF INJURIES

Introduction:Trauma has become the major health care challenge, with abdomen being the third most commonly involved region of the body. Gastrointestinal tract injuries require prompt attention owing to potential for sepsis, caused either by blunt or penetrating injuries. Blunt trauma usually affects solid organs while as penetrating trauma mostly affects Gastrointestinal tract, commonly ileum, jejunum, colon, etc Material and methods: The patients with traumatic gastrointestinal perforation resulting from both blunt as well as penetrating trauma, were identified based on clinical presentation like pain abdomen, vomiting, fever, distension of abdomen, tenderness and supportive radiological evidences. The patients were examined and resuscitated and data was collected and organized according to the following categories: age, gender, clinical presentation, mode of trauma, duration of injury prior to admission/ presentation, radiological assessment, diagnosis, anatomical location. Results: Maximum patients were found to be in the age group of 21-40 years, with male preponderance. RTA (50%) was the most common mode of trauma, with Ileum (61.36%) being the most commonly involved site of GI tract. Conclusion:Traumatic GIT injuries is on the rise, mainly among young males with RTA being the most common mode of trauma.