Management of penetrating abdominal stab wounds

✍ Scribed by Dr A. M. de Lacy; M. Pera; J. C. Garcia-Valdecasas; L. Grande; J. Fuster; E. Cugat; M. A. Lopez-Boado; J. Visa; C. Pera

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 371 KB
• Volume: 75
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800750313

✦ Synopsis

Abstract
The authors present the results of a therapeutic trial of the conservative or surgical management of penetrating abdominal stab wounds (PASW) based on clinical criteria. In a prospective series of 100 patients, 70 were treated non-operatively. Thirty patients were operated upon, twenty-one immediately and nine during the 48 h observation period. In five laparotomies no significant injuries were found. Morbidity was similar in both immediate and delayed laparotomy groups (3/21 versus 1/9). Acute alcoholic intoxication identifies a subgroup of patients that are difficult to evaluate and hence are more likely to be managed by laparotomy (χ2 = 4·056, P<0·05). The authors conclude that selective surgical management of PASW based on clinical criteria is an accurate and safe procedure.