In a period of five years, 87 patients with pancreatic trauma treated by distal pancreatectomy in five different emergency services were analysed. The age ranged of 7 to 64 years (mean 28) and 73 (84%) were male. The main type of injury was penetrating in 72,5%, with gunshot wounds in 3/4 of cases. Associated injuries were present in 96% of patients. The extension of pancreatic resection involved 30 to 70% of the gland, in 62% of cases. The spleen was preserved in 45,6% of57 patients without splenic injury. Morbidity rate was 46,2% with pancreatic fistula and post-operative pancreatitis the most frequent complications. Mortality rate was 13,7%. The conclusion of this study were: a) There is correlation between morbidity and type of injury; b) post-operative complications were more frequent in blunt trauma; c) There is no difference in the ocurrence of complications with the of method of pancreatic closure; d) There is no correlation between mortality and type of injury; e) There is a trend to increase mortality in blunt trauma with the presence of associated injuries.
Abdominal trauma; Pancreatic trauma; Pancreatectomy for trauma