The role of laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal stab wounds. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The role of diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) in abdominal stab wounds (ASWs) is not clearly defined. We hypothesized that peritoneal penetration (PP) during DL was a valid indication to convert to an exploratory laparotomy (EL). Retrospective review of hemodynamically stable ASWs requiring operation. A total of 161 patients with ASWs were identified, with 36 of 92 patients (39.1%) undergoing DL converted to EL. All 36 patients had PP; 20 of 36 (55.6%) ELs were therapeutic (TL). The number of nontherapeutic laparotomies (NTLs) prevented was 56 (60.9%). Five of 92 patients had PP on DL but did not undergo EL. Twenty-four of 69 patients who underwent initial EL had an NTL (34.8%). If this group had undergone an initial DL, and PP was used to determine need for EL, the number of NTLs would have been reduced to 10 (14.5%), a 58.3% reduction. Evidence of PP during DL is a reasonable indicator to determine the need for EL and reduce the number of NTLs.

publication date

  • February 1, 2005

Research

keywords

  • Abdominal Injuries
  • Laparoscopy
  • Peritoneum
  • Wounds, Stab

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 14144253730

PubMed ID

  • 15714149

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 15

issue

  • 1