OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of severe abdominal injuries using variables present in the initial assessment of blunt trauma patients. METHOD: retrospective analysis of charts and trauma data bank information including blunt trauma patients older than 13 y.o. who underwent abdominal assessment by computed tomography and/or laparotomy in a period of 18 months, starting in June 2008. Severity stratification was carried out with trauma indices (RTS, AIS, ISS and TRISS). Abdominal injuries were considered "severe" ifAIS > 3. Variables were compared between patients with SAI (group A) and without SAI (group B). Statistical analysis was carried out usingunivariate analysisinitially. We selected for logistic regression variables that would be present in the initial assessment (IA variables) and, additionally, had p<0.20 in the initial statistical analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty one patients were included. Abdominal injuries were present in 140 (42.3%), being considered severe in 101 (30,5%) (Group A).Univariate analysis showed that variables significantly associated with SAI (p<0.05) in the initial analysis were: pre hospital Systolic Arterial Blood Pressure (SAP) (p=0.019), admission SAP (p<0.001), admission heart rate (p=0.047), positive abdominal physical exam on admission(p<0.001) and pelvic fractures (p=0.006). Logistic regression identified five independent factors related to SAI (IA variables): SAP (p=0.034), positive abdominal physical exam (p<0.001), open lower limbs fractures (p<0.044), motorcyclist as trauma mechanism (p=0.017) and positive FAST (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: IA variables significantly associated with SAI were SAP, positive abdominal physical examination, open lower limbs fractures, motorcyclist as mechanism of trauma and positive FAST.
Abdomen; Wounds and injuries; Abdominal injuries; Trauma severity indices; Diagnosis
