Bowel obstructions and incisional hernias following trauma laparotomy and the nonoperative therapy of solid organ injuries: A retrospective population-based analysis

BACKGROUND Small bowel obstruction (SBO) and incisional hernia (IH) represent the most common long-term complications of laparotomy. They may also be more common among injured patients than for elective/nontrauma emergency scenarios. Unfortunately, the population-based incidence of SBO and IH following trauma laparotomy is unknown. The aim of this study was to define the long-term, population-based incidence of SBO and IH following both trauma laparotomy as well as the nonoperative therapy of solid organ injuries. METHODS All injured patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center (2002-2013) who underwent (1) a laparotomy or nonoperative care of (2) splenic and/or (3) hepatic injuries were linked with the Alberta Health Services Discharge Database to identify all readmissions for subsequent SBO and/or IH within the province. Standard statistical methodology was used (p < 0.05). RESULTS Of 484 patients who underwent a trauma laparotomy, 29 (6%) and 42 (9%) required readmission for SBO and IH, respectively (0.13 SBO and 0.10 IH admissions per patient year). Patients who underwent nonoperative management of their liver and/or spleen injuries displayed long-term SBO rates of 1% (6 of 619) and 0.7% (4 of 606), respectively. The rate of SBO and IH in patients with unnecessary laparotomies was equivalent to therapeutic procedures (p = 0.183). Topical hemostatic agents, repeat laparotomies, and injury pattern did not alter SBO or IH rates (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The population-based, long-term rate of clinically relevant SBO and IH following trauma laparotomies is 15%. This increases to 19% on a per-admission basis. Nontherapeutic scenarios, injury pattern, topical hemostatics, and open abdomens did not alter complication rates.