title: Peritoneal lavage. Reliability of RBC count in patients with stab wounds to the chest.
abstract: Two hundred thirteen patients with stab wounds to the lower part of the chest and abdomen were reviewed to determine if a lavage RBC count of 100,000/cu mm was a reasonable figure to permit prompt recognition of injury and to minimize the number of negative operative procedures. There were four (1.9%) false-positive and nine (4.2%) false-negative lavages. Three patients (1.4%) had complications due to delayed operation, including one death (0.47%). Two patients (0.9%) had hollow viscus injuries; neither involved the colon. Three of the nine patients with injuries had cell counts of less than 1,000/cu mm. The negative cellotomy rate was 4.2%. It was concluded that the number of missed injuries, delayed operative procedures, and complications was sufficiently low enough to continue recommending 100,000 RBCs per cubic millimeter as a safe number to use as an indication for operation.
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010537:Peritoneum; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*