Acute gastric dilatation after trauma.

During a 2-year period, 248 consecutive patients were admitted with multiple trauma. Acute gastric dilatation was documented in 67 (27%) patients by review of all admission roentgenograms. There were 51 (76%) males and 16 females. Ages ranged from 2 to 80 years (mean, 29.2 years). The incidence of acute gastric dilatation in children was 44% vs. 25% for adults (p less than 0.05). The mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident in 45 (67%), agricultural accident in 8 (12%), fall in four (6%), bicycle accident in four (6%), and miscellaneous in six (9%). There were 38 orthopedic, 35 craniocerebral, 34 abdominal, 31 thoracic, 27 maxillofacial, and 14 spinal injuries. Injury Severity Scores ranged from 4 to 66 (mean, 23.5). Thirteen (19%) patients presented in shock and there were four (6%) hospital deaths. No death was attributable to gastric dilatation. Nasogastric tubes were placed in 41 (61%) patients and 26 were managed without tube placement. Complications associated with acute gastric dilatation included pulmonary aspiration in three (4%) patients, gastric hemorrhage in three (4%), gastrointestinal perforation in one (1%), and prolonged ileus in 12 (18%). In addition, gastric dilatation rendered abdominal examination difficult and delayed peritoneal lavage. Acute gastric dilatation after trauma is frequent in our rural trauma center. Early placement of a nasogastric tube in the absence of a clear contraindication is strongly supported in the management of multiply injured patients.