[Small bowel perforations after blunt abdominal trauma: evaluation with computed tomographic scan and laparoscopy]

Small bowel perforations are the consequences of violent blunt abdominal trauma. Diagnosis of small bowel perforation is suspected in case of acute pain associated with peritoneal signs (tenderness, followed by rigidity). Computed tomographic scan performed in emergency is often specific, showing intraperitoneal fluid without visible solid organ injury, bowel wall thickening, bowel wall discontinuity, extraluminal gas or small pneumoperitoneum. Explorative laparoscopy confirms the diagnosis of blunt bowel injuries and allows usually its treatment. We report herein two cases where we have chosen this strategy.