[Therapy and prognosis in 102 liver injuries]

Case histories of 102 patients with liver trauma were analyzed. 88% sustained blunt and 12% penetrating liver injury. 71% of all patients had a polytrauma. The liver injuries were classified in 4 types. With 25 patients primary resuscitation was unsuccessful, in 12 of these cases even though immediate laparotomy and aortic clamping was performed in the emergency room. In 62 of the remaining 77 patients haemostasis was accomplished with minor surgical procedures (lethality 16%), in 13 cases major surgery had to be performed (lethality 62%). Packing was used in one patient only. Prognosis of liver trauma depends mainly on associated injuries and on severity of liver trauma.