[Diagnostic and treatment difficulties in posttraumatic duodenal wounds]

Authors report a number of 5 patients operated for posttraumatic duodenal wounds between 1990 and 1996. Urgency diagnosis, and therapeutical conduct are commented upon, under conditions of surgical teams sometimes very little trained in solving such lesions. Two out of the 5 cases have presented extensive injuries to the duodenum and pancreas, and have brought about surgery tactical and technical problems. These have had an immediate postoperative morbidity full of serious complications, which have necessitated other interventions of a high vital risk. There have been no deaths registered. It has been reported about the advantage, of using "a la Roux" loop anastomosis for solving duodenal wounds which compromise the viability of the duodenal wall on a larger surface than that initially appreciated, when are combined with ampulla detachments and pancreatic lesions.