title: Effectiveness of peritoneal lavage in blunt abdominal trauma.
abstract: To analyze the effectiveness of peritoneal lavage and to define its limitations in the evaluation of patients who have sustained blunt abdominal trauma, a prospective study of 500 such patients was undertaken by the Trauma Service at the Naval Hospital, San Diego. Utilizing a qualitative colorometric method to evaluate the degree of hemoperitoneum, patients could rapidly be divided into three clinical groups: strongly positive, weakly positive, and negative. Using this method, patients with a strongly positive peritoneal lavage had a 94% incidence of significant intra-abdominal injuries. In 333 patients with a negative lavage, there was no documented incidence of significant intra-abdominal injuries. Visceral angiography and abdominal echography were utilized in this group of patients to identify those with significant intra-abdominal injuries. By utilizing this approach, there were only eight unnecessary celiotomies in the total group of 500 patients. It is concluded, therefore, that peritoneal lavage is a safe, rapid, and effective means of evaluating patients who have sustained blunt abdominal trauma.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D000792:Angiography; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D003124:Colorimetry; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases