Management of duodenal injuries in children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The natural history and management of pediatric duodenal injuries are incompletely described. This study sought to review injury mechanism, surgical management, and outcomes from a collected series of pediatric duodenal injuries.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for a 10-year period of all children less than 18 years old treated for duodenal injuries at 2 pediatric trauma centers.

RESULTS: Forty-two children were treated for duodenal injuries. There were 33 blunt and 9 penetrating injuries. Injuries were classified using the Organ Injury Scale for the Duodenum. Twenty-four patients underwent operative management by primary repair (18), duodenal resection and gastrojejunostomy (4), or pyloric exclusion (2). Duodenal hematomas were treated nonoperatively in 94% of cases. The average ISS for operative versus nonoperative cases was 23 and 10, respectively. Delay in diagnosis or operative intervention (>24 hours) was associated with increased complication rate (43% v 29%) and hospitalization (32 v 20 days). Nine children requiring surgery experienced delays and were most highly associated with foreign body, child abuse, and bicycle injuries. There were no deaths caused by duodenal injuries.

CONCLUSIONS: Duodenal injuries in children were predominantly blunt and had a low mortality rate. When surgery was required, primary repair was usually feasible.