title: Value of "inconclusive lavage" in abdominal trauma management.
abstract: Peritoneal lavage is an invaluable adjunct in the evaluation of abdominal trauma. Of 780 abdominal trauma patients in a prospective study, 685 underwent percutaneous peritoneal lavage. RBC counts in the effluent above 50,000/mm3 corresponded well with findings at exploration; however, two thirds of the patients having counts between 20,000--50,000/mm3 had serious injury at celiotomy. The data suggest the need for a reappraisal of lavage criteria for operation.
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000293:Adolescent; D002452:Cell Count; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation