Management of isolated blunt duodenal injury

Five cases of duodenal injuries were treated in our hospital between January 1, 1975 and June 18, 1979. They belonged to the Class II and early Class III of duodenal injuries. They were treated with simple closure of the perforation in a single or double layer with external drainage. Only in one case were gastrojejunostomy and bilateral vagotomy added because the patient had a history of ulcer disease. The delay in operative treatment ranged between five and 48 hours. All responded well to the surgical treatment. In the instance of the longest operative delay, a purulent drainage occurred and it responded promptly to a selective antibiotic therapy. The average hospitalization stay was nine days for the patients operated upon early, whereas it was 15 days for the two delayed cases. No mortality was recorded.