Laparoscopy offers diagnosis and treatment in abdominal stab injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal stab injuries (ASI).


METHODS
Patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures due to ASI were included in the study. Hemodynamic instability, injuries to the posterior trunk, concomitant severe cranial injuries, and prior abdominal operations were considered as contraindication for laparoscopy.


RESULTS
From January 1997 to March 2006, 88 patients underwent laparoscopic management of ASI. In 45 patients (51.1%), there was no intra-abdominal pathology requiring surgical intervention (nontherapeutic laparoscopy) and 5 patients in this group had no peritoneal penetration (negative laparoscopy). In another 25 patients (28.4%), laparoscopic treatment was performed (therapeutic laparoscopy), including bleeding control in liver, colonic, gastric, and diaphragmatic repairs and intra-abdominal bleeding control. Laparotomy was avoided in a total of 70 (79.5%) patients. In 18 patients (20.5%), laparoscopy was converted to laparotomy. There was no mortality, and except one missed small bowel injury nor perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing laparoscopy. In the laparotomy group, major complications were seen in 7 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopy is safe and efficient in the management of ASI and should be more frequently considered as a therapeutic tool.
Saribeyoglu
Kaya
K
Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Emergency Unit, Istanbul, Turkey. kayasaribeyoglu@gmail.com
Pekmezci
Salih
S
Baca
Bilgi
B
Zengin
Kagan
K
Karatas
Adem
A
Erenler Kilic
Ilknur
I
Carkman
Sinan
S
Ozcevik
Halim
H
Aydogan
Fatih
F
Eyuboglu
Erhun
E
Sirin
Feridun
F
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*