Abdominal stab wounds: the role of selective management.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of a selective approach to the operative treatment of abdominal stab wounds.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University hospital, Turkey.


METHODS
387 patients with stab wounds of the abdomen, who presented between January 1992 and January 1995.


METHODS
After local exploration of the wound, 200 patients in whom the wound had penetrated the peritoneum, underwent diagnostic peritoneal lavage. The lavage fluid was examined for white cells, red cells, and amylase and alkaline phosphatase activity. The severity of the injury was evaluated with the penetrating abdominal trauma index (PATI).


METHODS
Morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
The main complications were wound infection (n=15), wound dehiscence (n=5), pneumonia (n=3) and renal failure (n=1). Five patients died. The median hospital stay was 6.1 days when patients were operated on, and 1.5 days when they were not.


CONCLUSIONS
We managed to minimise the number of negative and unnecessary laparotomies. We emphasise that the selective approach may easily be applied in teaching hospitals.
Taviloglu
K
K
Department of Surgical Emergency and Trauma, University of Istanbul, Istanbul School of Medicine, Turkey.
Günay
K
K
Ertekin
C
C
Calis
A
A
Türel
O
O
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000601:surgery*