This report represents a clinical study of experience with 101 cases of abdominal injuries, causing
hollow organ rupture, which were treated by surgical intervention at the Pusan National University
Hospital during 14 years from October-1957 to March to March-1971.
1. The sex distribution assumed a ratio of 4.6 to 1 with 83 males and 18 females.
2. The age distribution indicated a predominant incidence in 2nd and 3rd decade (55%).
3. The seasonal distribution indecated a predominant incidence in spring involving 34 cases (33%).
4. As to the cause, in order of frequency, traffic accident in 40 cases, violence in 30 cases, stab
wound in 26 cases and gun shot in 5 cases.
5. 42 cases of the wounded paitents were seen and operated on within 4 hours after injury.
6. As to the injured organs, in order of frequency, the small intestine was in 77 cases, and the colon
was in 17 cases.
7. Among 101 cases of abdominal injuries, the associated injury was in 21 cases. the teared mesentery
was the commonest incidence, involving 6 cases, the spleen rupture was in 4 cases and the liver rupture
was in 3 cases.
8. Abdominal tapping was valuable in diagnosis, positive findings were obtained in 32 cases of 52.
9. Among 98 cases of X-ray checking the abdomen, free gas was present in 11 casese (10%).
10. Among 17 cases of colon injuries, primary closure of perforation was carried out in 8 cases
with good result. It is considered relatively safe to perform primary closure of the perforated colon
if it is performed during early post-injury period and there is no gross contamination of abdominal
cavity at the time of exploration.
11. The postoperative complication was 16 cases(15%) and the common one was wound infection
in 5 cases (4%).
12. Over all mortality was 10 cases (10%).
13. The most common cause of death was peritonitis in 3 cases, irreversicle hemorrhagic shock in
3 cases, pneumonia in 2 cases, intratranial hemorrhage in 1 case and renal shut down in 1
case.
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