Abdominal trauma--a review.

Trauma is a leading cause of death in the 1-44 age group. In our study, the most common cause is road traffic accidents followed by stab wounds and falls from height. Blunt abdominal trauma accounted for 79% of the cases. The spleen and liver were the most common organs involved in blunt abdominal trauma. Clinical assessment of blunt abdominal trauma is unreliable. The diagnostic peritoneal lavage is a useful triage tool in the initial assessment.