Traumatic bowel perforation: analysis of CT findings according to the perforation site and the elapsed time since accident

Abstract

Abdominal CTs of 57 patients with bowel perforation after blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively analyzed to determine: the diagnostic accuracy of the perforation site, and the differential findings according to the elapsed time from the trauma. Diagnostic accuracy of the perforation site was as follows: duodenum (100%), jejunum (81%), jejunoileal junction (100%), ileum (93%), and colon (20%). Extraluminal air was the only significant differential findings according to the elapsed time, and was seen more commonly on late stage of bowel perforation (P<.05).