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Management and treatment of liver injury in children
Serkan Arslan1, Mahmut Güzel2, Cüneyt Turan2
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. Münif İslamoğlu Kastamonu State Hospital, Kastamonu, Turkey. drserkanarslan@hotmail.com.
Insights
Conservative management is preferred for hemodynamically stable pediatric liver injuries, leading to better outcomes. This approach reduces hospital stay, blood transfusions, and mortality compared to surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Trauma Management
- Hepatobiliary System
Background:
- Liver injuries in children are often caused by blunt abdominal trauma.
- Understanding injury patterns and management outcomes is crucial for pediatric trauma care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess causes of pediatric liver injuries.
- To evaluate management strategies and outcomes for pediatric liver trauma.
- To compare conservative versus surgical management of liver injuries in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 52 pediatric patients with liver injuries due to blunt abdominal trauma (2005-2010).
- Analysis of injury causes, injury severity grading, and management approaches.
- Comparison of outcomes between conservative and surgical management groups.
Main Results:
- Traffic accidents and falls were primary causes of pediatric liver injury.
- Most injuries were isolated liver trauma (62%), with varying severity grades.
- Conservative management (87%) showed better outcomes than surgery (13%), including shorter hospital stays and fewer transfusions.
Conclusions:
- Hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with liver injuries benefit from conservative management.
- Conservative treatment is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality.
- Prioritizing non-operative care improves patient outcomes in pediatric liver trauma.
Background:
We aimed to assess the causes of trauma that result in liver injury and additional solid organ injuries, management types and results of management in children referred to our clinic for liver injuries.
Methods:
The records of 52 patients who were managed for liver injuries due to blunt abdominal trauma between January 2005-2010 were reviewed retrospectively.
Results:
The patients were 1-17 (8.3±5.4) years old; 32 (62%) were male and 20 (38%) were female. Causes of injuries included pedestrian traffic accidents (19, 37%), falls from height (15, 29%), passenger traffic accidents (8, 15%), bicycle accidents (8, 15%), and objects falling on the body (2, 4%). Isolated liver injury was present in 32 patients (62%), while 20 patients (38%) had other organ injuries. Liver injuries were grade I in 6 patients (12%), grade II in 14 (28%), grade III in 22 (43%), grade IV in 9 (17%), and grade V in 1 (2%). Forty-five patients (87%) were managed conservatively in this series of liver injury, whereas seven patients (13%) who had unstable vital signs underwent surgery. The mortality rate, duration of stay in intensive care and hospital, and number of blood transfusions were higher in surgically managed patients, while hemoglobin level and blood pressure were significantly lower in surgically managed patients.
Conclusion:
As a result, conservative management should be preferred in patients with liver injuries who are hemodynamically stable. Conservative management has some advantages, including shorter duration of stay in hospital, less need for blood transfusion and lower morbidity and mortality rates.
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