Abdominal stab wounds: a five-year patient review.
Over a period of 5 years, 101 patients were treated for abdominal stab wounds at our emergency department. Exploratory laparotomy was performed in 41 of these cases. The indication for laparotomy was set by clinical investigation in 20 cases, instrumental exploration in six patients, ultrasound in six, paracentesis in seven and computerized tomography scanning in two cases. A review of the results of the treatment of these abdominal stab wounds is compared with the literature. Routine laparotomy for this type of penetrating trauma to the abdomen proves to be no longer warranted. Clinical and especially diagnostic studies should be able to select patients in whom laparotomy should be performed. When these studies are unable to exclude severe injury, laparotomy remains more prudent than expectant observation.
Van Brussel
M
M
Academic Surgical Center Stuivenberg, University of Antwerp-UIA, Belgium.
Van Hee
R
R
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001530:Belgium; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*