Acute Obstruction of Small Intestine Secondary to Hematoma in Children

Abstract

Children are peculiarly susceptible to traumatic experiences. When a child or an adult is struck in the abdomen, the organ most commonly injured is the liver, spleen, or kidney. One seldom thinks of trauma to the bowel unless free air is present in the peritoneal cavity. If perforation has not occurred, the thought of bowel injury is often dismissed. It is only after signs of obstruction have developed or tenderness has persisted that the possibility is considered. A study of the literature has disclosed that obstruction of the duodenum or jejunum due to hematoma is very infrequent. A total of 19 cases have been found. Of these 19 cases, 16 have been in patients below the age of 20; and 12 of the 19 patients have been 11 years old or less, thus illustrating the greater incidence of this condition in childhood. It is interesting to note that in only