Intestinal infarction after nonabdominal trauma; association with cerebral trauma

Nonocclusive bowel infarction in nonabdominal trauma has been ascribed to periods of hypotension. However, to our knowledge only 17 cases have been reported, and hypotension was not always found. We studied the frequency and possible causes of intestinal infarction in all patients treated at our traumatologic intensive care unit from 1977 through 1986 (n = 2350). Intestinal infarction was diagnosed at the time of surgery or autopsy; patients with pre-existing vascular disease were excluded. We found 12 patients (incidence: 0.5%) of age 45 +/- 20 years (mean +/- SD). All had severe cerebral trauma [Head and Neck Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score: 4-5, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score: 6.5 +/- 3.8]. Eight patients suffered from additional injuries. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 27 +/- 7. All patients received ventilator assistance continuously before the diagnosis of intestinal infarction or death. The leading symptom of intestinal infarction was sepsis and multiple organ failure with abdominal distention. Five patients with favorable cerebral prognosis underwent surgery: one survived with good cerebral and gastrointestinal recovery. Four patients did not have surgery because of a poor cerebral prognosis. Three patients died of their cerebral trauma before intestinal infarction was clinically manifested. The data show that early diagnosis in ventilated patients with head injuries is extremely difficult because of the heterogenicity of this group of patients, the low frequency of the complication, and the complexity of the clinical picture. Although patients inevitably were exposed to several agents or situations associated with intestinal infarction, the ubiquitous causes were dehydration and diuretic therapy.