The management of penetrating and blunt colon, rectal, and anal injuries has evolved during the past 150 years. Since the World War II mandate to divert penetrating colon injuries, primary repair or resection and anastomosis have found an increasing role in patients with nondestructive injuries. A critical review of recent literature better defines the role of primary repair and fecal diversion for these injuries and allows for better algorithms for the management of these injuries.

Surgical resident experience on most trauma services is heavily weighted to nonoperative management, with a relatively low number of procedures, little experience with DPL, and highly variable experience with ultrasound. These data have serious implications for resident training and recruitment into the specialty.

Allogeneic blood transfusion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The authors evaluated the affect of blood transfusion, independent of injury severity on mortality. The authors conducted a retrospective review of all patients, age ≥18 years with blunt injury admitted to their Level 2 trauma center from 1994 to 2004 by query of the NTRACS trauma registry. Initial systolic blood pressure and heart rate determined the shock index. Logistic regression was used to model the affect of blood transfusion on mortality. Transfusion requirements were categorized as follows: A, 0 U; B, 1 to 2 U; C, 3 to 5 U; D, ≥6 U blood. In this sample of 8215 blunt trauma patients, 324 patients received blood transfusion. Mortality rates between the transfused and nontransfused groups were 15.12 per cent and 1.84 per cent ( P < 0.000) respectively. In the logistic regression model, transfusion category B did not have a significant affect on the odds of death ( P = 0.176); the affect of transfusing 3 to 5 U and ≥6 U had a mortality odds ratio of 3.22 ( P = 0.002) and 4.87 ( P = 0.000) respectively. Transfusing ≥2U blood was strongly associated with mortality in this blunt trauma population. There must be a continuous attempt to limit blood transfusion when feasible and physiologically appropriate.

Both DV and AA have a high prevalence among female trauma patients admitted to trauma centers. Nearly all subjects recommended screening for DV. Screening for DV should be incorporated into the routine care of female trauma patients.