Management of penetrating abdominal stab wounds.
The authors present the results of a therapeutic trial of the conservative or surgical management of penetrating abdominal stab wounds (PASW) based on clinical criteria. In a prospective series of 100 patients, 70 were treated non-operatively. Thirty patients were operated upon, twenty-one immediately and nine during the 48 h observation period. In five laparotomies no significant injuries were found. Morbidity was similar in both immediate and delayed laparotomy groups (3/21 versus 1/9). Acute alcoholic intoxication identifies a subgroup of patients that are difficult to evaluate and hence are more likely to be managed by laparotomy (chi 2 = 4.056, P less than 0.05). The authors conclude that selective surgical management of PASW based on clinical criteria is an accurate and safe procedure.
de Lacy
A M
AM
Department of Surgery, Hospital Clinico y Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Pera
M
M
Garcia-Valdecasas
J C
JC
Grande
L
L
Fuster
J
J
Cugat
E
E
Lopez-Boado
M A
MA
Visa
J
J
Pera
C
C
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000601:surgery*