Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Intraoperative Video Consultation Following Bile Duct Transection Facilitates Direct OR Transfer for Robotic Hepaticojejunostomy at Tertiary Center
07:48

Intraoperative Video Consultation Following Bile Duct Transection Facilitates Direct OR Transfer for Robotic Hepaticojejunostomy at Tertiary Center

Published on: January 9, 2026

Operative blunt duodenal injury in children: a multi-institutional review

Ivan M Gutierrez1, David P Mooney

  • 1Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|October 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Operative blunt duodenal injury in children is rare, occurring less than once per year per trauma center. While most patients present with physical findings, computed tomography scans with enteral contrast are not diagnostic, and complications are common but survivable.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Trauma Management
  • Gastrointestinal Injury

Background:

  • Operative blunt duodenal injury in children is an infrequent occurrence.
  • Understanding its clinical presentation, management, and outcomes is crucial for pediatric trauma centers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical presentation of operative blunt duodenal injury in children.
  • To outline current management strategies and evaluate outcomes for these injuries.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected from pediatric trauma centers affiliated with the American Pediatric Surgical Association Trauma Committee.
  • Analysis included children with blunt intestinal injuries identified from January 2002 to August 2006.

Main Results:

  • Fifty-four cases of operative blunt duodenal injury were identified across 16 hospitals.
  • Motor vehicle crashes, bicycle crashes, and nonaccidental trauma were leading causes.
  • Physical examination findings were common (90%), but computed tomography scans with enteral contrast showed limited diagnostic value.

Conclusions:

  • Blunt duodenal injuries in children are rare, necessitating specialized trauma care.
  • Physical examination is key for initial assessment, while advanced imaging may have limitations.
  • Despite frequent postoperative complications, the overall survival rate for these injuries is high.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications01:25

Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications

Duodenal UlcersDuodenal ulcers are the most common form of peptic ulcer disease, presenting with chronic, intermittent epigastric pain. Pain typically appears 2–3 hours after meals, especially when the stomach is empty, often waking patients at night. It is characteristically relieved by food or antacids (“pain–food–relief”). Some patients remain asymptomatic until complications like bleeding or perforation emerge, particularly with NSAID or anticoagulant use.Gastric UlcersGastric ulcers share...
Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:28

Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) presents with diverse symptoms depending on the location and severity of the ulcer. Clinical manifestations of peptic ulcer include dull pain and a burning sensation in the mid-epigastric region.
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
Peptic Ulcer01:27

Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...
Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction01:22

Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction

Esophageal perforation is a severe medical condition characterized by a breach in the integrity of the esophageal wall. This breach can occur due to various factors such as trauma, medical procedures, or underlying diseases. When the esophageal wall is compromised, it allows food, fluids, and digestive juices into the chest cavity or adjacent structures, leading to potential complications and health risks.
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology01:24

Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology

Peptic ulcer disease develops when protective mechanisms of the gastrointestinal mucosa are overwhelmed by harmful factors, leading to localized erosions in the stomach or proximal duodenum. The main causes are Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).Helicobacter pylori–Induced InjuryBacterial Adaptation and Colonization:H. pylori is a spiral, Gram-negative bacterium adapted to the acidic stomach. and transmitted through oral-oral or...
Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management01:28

Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management

Esophageal perforations manifest in various clinical forms, influenced by factors such as the perforation's cause and location (cervical, intrathoracic, or intra-abdominal), the extent of contamination, and potential injury to adjacent mediastinal structures. The timing between the perforation occurrence and treatment initiation also affects the clinical presentation.
Clinical Manifestations: