Abstract

Blunt small bowel injury (SBI) is infrequent although it is reported to be the third most common injury in Korea. Furthermore, significant variations exist in the diagnostic approach to patients with suspected blunt SBI so that diagnosis and management present a significant challenge for trauma surgeons and emergency physicians. Delays in diagnosis and management are responsible for increased mortality and morbidity, so it is very important to select an appropriative diagnostic modality rapidly in a given situation. With the increasing popularity of computed tomographic (CT) scans as the preferred diagnostic modality in blunt abdominal trauma, intestinal injuries may be potentially missed, so many authors recommend the use of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) to evaluate blunt abdominal trauma in which no remarkable findings expected of small bowel injury exist. This report presents the case of a patient who was diagnosed with an isolated small bowel injury after a significant delay and a brief review of the subject.

• Keywords: Small bowel injury, Computed tomography (CT), Diagnostic peritoneal lavage(DPL)