title: Use of laparoscopy in trauma at a level II trauma center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enthusiasm for the use of laparoscopy in trauma has not rivaled that for general surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience with laparoscopy at a level II trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of all trauma patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic laparoscopy was performed from January 2004 to July 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopy was performed in 16 patients during the study period. The average age was 35 years. Injuries included left diaphragm in 4 patients, mesenteric injury in 2, and vaginal laceration, liver laceration, small bowel injury, renal laceration, urethral/pelvic, and colon injury in 1 patient each. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 11 patients (69%) with 3 patients requiring conversion to an open procedure. Successful therapeutic laparoscopy was performed in 5 patients for repair of isolated diaphragm injuries (2), a small bowel injury, a colon injury, and placement of a suprapubic bladder catheter. Average length of stay was 5.6 days (range, 0 to 23), and 75% of patients were discharged home. Morbidity rate was 13% with no mortalities or missed injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy is a seldom-used modality at our trauma center; however, it may play a role in a select subset of patients.
authors: South East Area Health Education Center, Department of Surgery, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Daniel C
authors: DC
authors: Barzana
authors: Cyrus A
authors: CA
authors: Kotwall
authors: Thomas V
authors: TV
authors: Clancy
authors: William W
authors: WW
authors: Hope
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult