Conservative Management of Anterior Abdominal Penetrating Trauma

Selective conservative management of abdominal penetrating trauma can significantly minimize the morbidity and length of hospitalization by decreasing the rate of unnecessary laparotomies. In the present study, we reported the outcome of newest guidelines of our trauma center in one year. All patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds who were referred to Rajaiee trauma center between September 2012 and September 2013 were enrolled. Patients without shock, peritonitis, and evisceration who did not require emergency operation were planned for nonoperative management with serial physical examinations, blood cells count, and radiographic investigations. Outcome of nonoperative management was described in order to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of our current guideline. Among 45 patients who underwent nonoperative management, 27 cases (60%) required laparotomy due to peritonitis or shock. Rate of unnecessary nontherapeutic operations was 49.2%. Minimizing diagnostic procedures such as diagnostic peritoneal lavage and computed tomography can significantly increase the rate of unnecessary operations leading to longer hospitalizations and operation-related morbidity. To reduce the failure rate of nonoperative management and nontherapeutic surgeries, modifications in current guidelines should be made.