title: Laparoscopy decreases the laparotomy rate for hemodynamically stable patients with blunt hollow viscus and mesenteric injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopy on patients with blunt hollow viscus and mesenteric injuries (BHVMIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemodynamically stable patients with BHVMIs were diagnosed using computed tomography and serial examinations. Patients admitted from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2006 underwent exploratory laparotomy (group A), and those admitted from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2013 received laparoscopy (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 62 patients in group A, and 59 patients in group B. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics, injury severity score, and injuries requiring surgical intervention between the groups (all, P > .05). Patients in group B had a shorter hospital stay (mean 11.0 vs 17.6 days, P < .001) and lower wound infection rate (mean 5.1% vs 16.1%, P = .049). The conversion rate of laparoscopy to laparotomy in group B was 8.5%, compared with a 100% laparotomy rate in group A (P < .001). There was no difference in the complication rate between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy is feasible and safe for hemodynamically stable patients with BHVMIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Heng-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Da
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Keng-Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng Che
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: scchen@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shyr-Chyr
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014781:Viscera / Q000293:injuries*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Blunt hollow viscus and mesenteric injuries; Diagnostic laparoscopy; Laparoscopy; Laparotomy; Therapeutic laparoscopy