Closed trauma of the pancreas

Closed trauma of the pancreas is a rare condition. The organ is located in a place with a relative protection. It is considered that between 1 and 5 % of serious abdominal traumatisms present a pancreatic lesion, according to different authors. This study describes the case of a 54-year-old male patient who had a closed trauma in the epigastrium by the kick of an ox, and came to the Emergency Department 72 hours after the trauma. On physical examination there was peritoneal reaction at that level. Abdominal echography showed a hematoma at the level of the pancreatic neck. It was decided to perform an exploratory laparotomy which revealed a total section of the pancreas neck to the right of the mesenteric vessels. Subtotal pancreatectomy was performed, together with splenectomy. The patient had a good postoperative progress