Western Trauma Association
Management of Adult Blunt Hepatic Trauma
Introduction
This
is a recommended algorithm of the Western Trauma
Association (WTA) for the management of blunt hepatic
injuries. Because there are no published prospective
randomized trials, the recommendations are based on
available published prospective, observational, and
retrospective data and expert opinion of WTA members.
The algorithm (Figure 1) and accompanying text represent
safe and reasonable treatment strategies that could be
followed at most trauma centers. We recognize that there
will be variability in decision making and institutional
and patient specific factors that may warrant deviation
from the recommended algorithm. We encourage
institutions to use this algorithm as a basis to develop
institution-specific protocols. The algorithm contains
letters which correspond to the text. Their purpose is
to explain the critical factors affecting decisions and
to guide the reader through the algorithm.1,2 References
to support each step are inserted as appropriate.
Specific areas where published data are lacking are
mentioned as potential topics for future studies.
