Abstract
AIM:
Paediatric gastrointestinal injuries (GIIs) are rare, and the aim of this multicentre study was to evaluate their outcomes in a large cohort.
METHODS:
Hospital databases of 10 European paediatric surgical centres were reviewed for paediatric traumatic GIIs managed between 2000-2010.
RESULTS:
Ninety-seven patients with a median age of 9 years (0-17 years) were identified, with 72 blunt and 25 penetrating GIIs. Initial diagnostics in 90 patients led to correct diagnosis in 71%. Diagnostics were delayed in 26 patients (median 24 h). Eighty-two patients required surgery (67 laparotomy, 12 laparoscopy and three other approaches). There was a 50% conversion in the laparoscopic group. Median hospital stay was 10 days (range 1-137 days), with longer duration influenced by associated injuries (n = 41). Diagnosis