[Blunt trauma of the liver. An analysis of a series of 29 cases].

Twenty nine patients with blunt liver trauma were recorded in the Central Hospital of Yaounde between 1986 and 1996. The average age was 23.4 years, with the 20 to 25 and 5 to 15 age groups being the most affected. The most characteristical clinical presentation was hemoperitoneum with shock. Twenty-three patients were operated (18 in emergency and 5 secondary). While 6 patients benefited from non operative treatment due to their stable hemodynamic state. Exploration of lesions revealed 16 grade I and grade II, 8 grade III and 5 grade IV and V lesions. The operation was a simple suture in 13 cases, selective ligature of hepatic artery in 2 cases and 2 tamponades while in 4 cases the treatment was inactive. The bleeding could not be controlled in 2 cases. Peri-operative mortality was 17.39% and morbidity 21.74%, made up mainly of parietal sepsis. In our practice, blunt liver trauma are generally benign and treatment should be conservative.