INJURIES OF THE PORTAL-VEIN AND VENA-CAVA DUE TO BLUNT ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA

Between 1/87 and 7/90 54 severely traumatized patients underwent emergency laparotomy because of blunt abdominal trauma. In 55,5 % of the cases one intraabdominal organ, in 20,4 % two organs, in 16,6 % three and in 7,4 % four or more organs were injured. Additionally in 14,8 % of these cases (n = 8) a major vascular injury (portal vein n = 5, vena cava n = 2, mesenteric root n = 1) was found intraoperatively. Injuries of the portal vein were always associated with complete rupture of the pancreas, requiring left pancreatic resection in 4 cases and a duodenum preserving resection of the pancreas head in one case. In 2 of these patients the portal vein had to be reconstructed with a prosthesis. Lethality was 9,3 % for the whole group (n = 54) and 25 % for the patients (n = 8) with additional vascular injuries.