Hepatic trauma: effects of delay in presentation

Objective: Hepatic trauma carries a substantial amount of morbidity & mortality. Purpose of study: The purpose of the study is to study the effects of delay in initiation of management of patients suffering from hepatic trauma. Design: Prospective study. Place & duration: The study was carried out in the Department of Surgery, Mayo Hospital Lahore from the year 1995-1997. Patient & methods: 57 patients were included in this study. They were operated and different methods of repair were employed. Results: 57 patients were studied. 50 were males, 7 were females. They belonged to an age range of 12-62 years. 55.7% patients suffered from blunt trauma while the rest of the cases were of penetrating injury. Over 50% of the patients presented within 4 hours of injury. All of the patients were operated and there findings noted. Different types of haemostatic measure were employed. There were ten mortalities in this study. Conclusions: Early presentation to the hospital of hepatic trauma cases, has a good impact o n the ultimate outcome of the patients.