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Hypothesis: Nonoperative management (NOM) of injuries to the liver, spleen, and kidney is highly successful, as shown in retrospective studies, but needs prospective validation. Patients in whom NOM is likely to fail can be identified by specific criteria., Design: Prospective observational study., Setting: Academic level I trauma center at a county hospital., Patients: Two hundred six patients with injuries to the liver (n = 99), spleen (n = 103), and/or kidney (n = 40)., Main Outcome Measures: Failure of NOM., Results: Fifty-seven patients (28%) underwent immediate operation; among the other 149, NOM failed in 33 (22%). The rate of failure for spleen injury (34%) was higher than for liver (17%) or kidney injury (18%) (P<.01). Failure of NOM was due to delayed bleeding from a solid viscus in 20 of the 33 patients. Intestinal injury was detected in only 1 patient initially selected for NOM. Specifically among patients with liver injury, no failure was due to delayed bleeding from the liver. Patients with failed NOM were more likely to have a positive abdominal ultrasonographic finding (61% vs 22%; P<.01), a grade of splenic injury of at least III on computed tomographic scan (CT) (n = 20 [17%] vs n = 16 [48%]; P<.01), and an amount of free fluid of greater than 300 mL on CT (36% vs 8%; P<.01) and to receive blood transfusions during NOM (58% vs 16%; P<.01). The groups were not different with regard to associated extra-abdominal injuries (including head injuries). Mortality was not different, but morbidity was marginally higher in patients with failed NOM (29% vs 45%; P =.08). We identified the following 4 independent risk factors of failure by means of stepwise logistic regression: nonliver (splenic or renal) injury, positive abdominal ultrasonography findings, amount of free fluid on CT of greater than 300 mL, and need for blood transfusion. According to a statistical model, the presence of all 4 independent risk factors predicted NOM failure in 96% of the patients, and the absence of all predicted success in 98%., Conclusions: In a prospective study, the rate of NOM failure for solid abdominal organ injuries is higher than the rates reported in retrospective studies. Nonoperative management is less likely to fail in liver injuries than in splenic or kidney injuries. Use of NOM should be exercised with caution if blood transfusion is needed, fluid is identified on the screening ultrasonogram, or a significant quantity of blood is discovered on CT.

Hypothesis: Nonoperative management of liver injuries (NOMLI) is highly successful and rarely leads to adverse events., Design: Prospective observational study., Setting: High-volume academic level I trauma center., Patients: For 26 months, 78 consecutive unselected patients with liver injuries were followed up prospectively. In the absence of hemodynamic instability or signs of hollow visceral trauma, NOMLI was offered irrespective of the magnitude of the liver injury. Main Outcome Measure Failure of NOMLI, defined as a laparotomy after an initial decision to treat the patient nonoperatively., Results: Of the 78 patients, 23 (29%) were operated on immediately, but only 12 (15%) for bleeding from the liver. All 12 patients required packing in addition to other maneuvers (hepatorrhaphy [n = 8], resection [n = 4], and liver isolation [n = 1]). Of the remaining 55 patients selected for NOMLI, the method failed in 8 for reasons unrelated to the liver injury: 2 underwent a splenectomy, 1 underwent a nephrectomy, 1 had a small-bowel repair, 1 underwent abdominal decompression for abdominal compartment syndrome, and 3 underwent a nontherapeutic laparotomy. The success rate of NOMLI was 85% (47 of 55 patients), but the liver-specific success rate was 100%. Compared with those in whom NOMLI was successful, patients in whom it failed had a higher Injury Severity Score and underwent more blood transfusions, but they had similar liver injury grades. In total, 66 (85%) of liver injuries did not bleed significantly. No adverse events were attributed to NOMLI., Conclusions: Nonoperative management of liver injuries is safe and effective regardless of the grade of liver injury. Failure of NOMLI is caused by associated abdominal injuries and not the liver. Fluid and blood requirements, the degree of injury severity, and the presence of other abdominal organ injuries may help predict failure.

Objective: We evaluated the incidence and organ distribution of arterial extravasation identified using contrast-enhanced helical CT in patients who had sustained abdominal visceral injuries and pelvic fractures after blunt trauma., Subjects and Methods: Five hundred sixty-five consecutive patients from four level I trauma centers who had CT scans showing abdominal visceral injuries or pelvic fractures were included in this series. The presence or absence of arterial extravasation, as well as the anatomic sites of arterial extravasation, was noted. We obtained clinical follow-up data, including surgical or angiographic findings., Results: In our series, 104 (18.4%) of 565 patients had arterial extravasation. Of the 104 patients, 81 (77.9%) underwent surgery, embolization, or both. The combined rate of surgery or embolization in patients with arterial extravasation was statistically higher than expected at all four institutions (p <0.001). The spleen was the most common organ injured, occurring in 277 (49.0%) of 565 patients, and arterial extravasation occurred in 49 (17.7%) of 277 patients with splenic injury. Several other visceral injuries were associated with arterial extravasation, including hepatic, renal, adrenal, and mesenteric injuries., Conclusion: Based on the limited reports of arterial extravasation in the nonhelical CT literature, the percentage (18%) of clinically stable patients in our study with CT scans showing arterial extravasation was higher than anticipated. This finding likely reflects the improved diagnostic capability of helical CT. Although the spleen and liver were the organs most commonly associated with arterial extravasation, radiologists should be aware that arterial extravasation may be associated with several other visceral injuries.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the use of CT cystography, using retrograde filling of the bladder with diluted iodinated contrast material, versus conventional cystography to identify bladder injury in patients with hematuria after blunt abdominal trauma., Subjects and Methods: Inclusion criteria consisted of the adult hemodynamically stable abdominal trauma patient with hematuria referred for abdominopelvic CT and also being considered for cystography. An initial abdominopelvic CT scan using IV iodinated contrast material was obtained, as would have been done routinely in the trauma victim. A second CT scan through the pelvis was obtained after retrograde distention of the bladder with dilute iodinated contrast material. CT cystography revealing bladder injury was followed with appropriate therapy. CT cystograms not revealing injury were followed by conventional cystography. Results of patient outcome were evaluated., Results: Over a 21-month period from January 1995 through September 1996, CT cystography was performed on 55 patients who presented with hematuria after blunt abdominal trauma. Five of the 55 patients had bladder injury on CT cystography. The injury in each of these five patients was confirmed intraoperatively. In the remaining 50 patients, both CT and conventional cystography did not reveal bladder injury., Conclusion: CT cystography is an accurate method for evaluating bladder injury in the blunt abdominal trauma victim with hematuria. CT cystography, performed in conjunction with routine CT of the abdomen and pelvis for evaluating traumatic hematuria, would therefore preclude conventional cystograms in these patients.