Intra-Abdominal Abscesses After Major Liver Trauma: Unraveling Risk Factors

The study investigated risk factors associated with intra-abdominal abscesses (IAA) following major operative liver trauma. Based on a retrospective multi-center study involving 372 patients, it was found that patients with penetrating trauma, activation of intraoperative massive transfusion protocol, biloma/bile leak, longer hospital length of stay, and additional intra-abdominal injuries had a higher risk of developing IAA. No association was observed between IAA risk and other factors such as intra-abdominal drains, damage control laparotomy, blood transfusions, or blood loss during surgery. These findings contribute to refining guidelines for managing complex operative traumatic liver injuries.