Abstract
We present the case of a 42-year-old man who sustained a traumatic perforation of the horizontal (third) portion of the duodenum. The injury was diagnosed within 24 hours of the trauma. During the operative repair, intraoperative endoscopy was used to guide placement of a duodenal decompression tube to optimize postoperative drainage. Two weeks later, endoscopic re-evaluation confirmed complete healing, and the patient was discharged in good condition. Finally, we review current strategies for managing traumatic duodenal injuries, with special emphasis on the role of endoscopic techniques.