Retropertioneal Trauma

The abdomen in trauma has often been likened to a "Black box" in which injuries may occur. These injuries are a frequent cause of preventable trauma deaths. Much attention has been given to diagnosing intra-abdominal injuries, and diagnostic peritoneal lavage has revolutionized the ability to diagnose these injuries. However, the retroperitoneum has remained a source of missed injuries and aetiology of both early and late morbidity and mortality in the trauma patient. "Retroperitoneal Trauma" addresses the retroperitoneum as a distinct and separate entity in the care of the trauma patient. A thorough understanding of retroperitoneal anatomy is essential to the identification and treatment of these difficult injuries. The kinematics of retroperitoneal injuries, initial evaluation, CT scanning in abdominal trauma, organs of the retroperitoneum and special diagnostic and surgical techniques are discussed in detail providing the trauma physician with the essential aspects of retroperitoneal anatomy essential to identifying and treating these injuries.