Emergency laparoscopy for abdominal stab wounds

Background: Management strategies for abdominal stab wounds (ASW) in initially asymptomatic patients range from mandatory explorative laparotomy (EL) to conservative approaches with observation alone. Emergency diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) may play a potential role between these two extremes—hence lowering the rate of unnecessary laparotomies and keeping the rate of missed injuries to a minimum. Patients and Methods: At our institution mandatory EL was carried out in every patient with ASW until 1992. In a retrospective study the charts of 43 patients with ASW were reviewed in terms of initial diagnostic procedures, intraabdominal injuries, and course and length of hospital stay. Between 5/1993 and 4/1995 DL was performed in a prospective study in 15 patients with suspected peritoneal penetration (PP) after ASW according to a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. Results: In 17 patients (40%) EL showed no PP; 15 (35%) had significant intraabdominal injuries, while 11 patients with PP didn't have lacerations of intraabdominal organs, resulting in an overall rate of nontherapeutic laparotomy of 65%. Mortality was 6% (n= 3), average hospital stay 8 days. Primary DL could exclude PP in 10 out of 15 patients (66%). The remaining five patients (33%) showed PP: In two patients with ASW to the right upper quadrant, intraabdominal injuries could be excluded by DL, and in one patient a low-grade liver injury was treated laparoscopically, thus avoiding laparotomy in a total of 87% (n= 13). In two patients with PP laparoscopy was converted to laparotomy: no pathological finding in one case, splenectomy for spleen laceration in the second patient, resulting in a rate of nontherapeutic laparotomies of 7%. All patients in this series had an uneventful course; average hospital stay was 2.4 days. Conclusions: DL offers an important diagnostic tool in excluding peritoneal penetration in ASW, hence lowering the rate of unnecessary laparotomies. Given experience and skills, laparoscopy may be used therapeutically in selected cases of ASW. Received: 24 February 1997/Accepted: 10 August 1997     

Nonoperative management of pelvic gunshot wounds

Background

The nonoperative management (NOM) of abdominal gunshot injuries is gradually becoming the standard of care. Patients with pelvic gunshot injuries constitute a subgroup of patients at high risk of visceral injury. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of the selective NOM of pelvic gunshot injuries.

Patients and methods

This prospective study was performed from April 1, 2004, to November 30, 2008. Patients with pelvic gunshot injuries underwent laparotomy for peritonitis, hemodynamic instability, rectal bleeding, and urologic injuries. Patients with benign abdominal findings with hematuria underwent computed tomography scanning with intravenous contrast. Stable patients with no tenderness or minimal tenderness confined to the wound or wound tract underwent serial abdominal examination. Outcome parameters included need for delayed laparotomy, complications, length of hospital stay, and survival.

Results

During the 54-month study period, 239 patients with pelvic gunshot injuries were treated. One hundred seventy-six (73.6%) patients underwent immediate laparotomy, whereas 63 (26.4%) were selected for NOM. The nontherapeutic laparotomy rate was 4.5% in the former group, and no patient required delayed laparotomy in the latter group. Also, 3 patients with minor extraperitoneal bladder injuries were successfully managed nonoperatively. Associated injuries included mostly fractures to the bony pelvis including the iliac blade (19), pubic ramii (3), and acetabulum (3). The mean hospital stay was 2.2 (range 1–8) days in the nonoperative group of patients. There were no deaths.

Conclusions

Selective NOM of pelvic gunshot injuries is a feasible, safe, and effective alternative to routine laparotomy.     

"Awake" laparoscopy for the evaluation of equivocal penetrating abdominal wounds

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic laparoscopy is useful for the assessment of equivocal penetrating abdominal wounds, and has become the modality of choice for the evaluation of such wounds at our institution. We hypothesised that, in appropriate patients, diagnostic "awake" laparoscopy (AL) could be performed under local anaesthesia in the emergency department (ED), allowing for expedited discharge and potential cost savings. METHODS: Selected haemodynamically stable patients with penetrating abdominal injury underwent AL. Suitability for AL was at the discretion of the attending surgeon. Identification of peritoneal penetration by AL led to exploratory laparotomy in the operating room. Patients with no evidence of peritoneal penetration were discharged from the ED (ALneg). These patients were matched to a cohort of 24 patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy in the OR which was negative for peritoneal penetration (DLneg). Length of stay and hospital charges were compared. RESULTS: Over a 30-month period, 15 patients underwent AL without complication. No peritoneal penetration was found in 11 patients. The remaining four patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, of which two were positive for intra-abdominal injury. Mean time to discharge was 7h in the ALneg group versus 18 h in the DLneg group (p=0.0003). Cost savings on hospital charges averaged 2227 US dollars per patient in the ALneg group compared with the DLneg group. CONCLUSIONS: AL may be safely performed in the ED, allowing for expedited patient discharge. Cost savings are achieved by the avoidance of charges inherent to diagnostic laparoscopy performed in the operating room.     

Selective non-operative management of civilian gunshot wounds to the abdomen: A systematic review of the evidence

Background

Selective non-operative management (SNOM) of penetrating abdominal wounds has become increasingly common in the past two or three decades and is now accepted as routine management for stab wounds. Gunshot wounds are more frequently managed with mandatory laparotomy but recently SNOM has been successfully applied. This review systematically appraises the evidence behind SNOM for civilian abdominal gunshot wounds.

Methods

A Medline search from 1990 to present identified civilian studies examining success rates for SNOM of abdominal gunshot wounds. Case reports, editorials and abstracts were excluded. All other studies meeting the inclusion criteria of reporting the success rate of non-operative management of abdominal gunshot wounds were analysed.

Results

Sixteen prospective and six retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria, including 18,602 patients with abdominal gunshot wounds. 32.2% (n = 6072) of patients were initially managed non-operatively and 15.5% (n = 943) required a delayed laparotomy. The presence of haemodynamic instability, peritonitis, GI bleeding or any co-existing pathology that prevented frequent serial examination of the abdomen from being performed were indications for immediate laparotomy in all studies. Delayed laparotomy results in similar outcomes to those in patients subjected to immediate laparotomy. Implementation of SNOM reduces the rates of negative and non-therapeutic laparotomies and reduces overall length of stay.

Conclusions

SNOM can be safely applied to some civilian patients with abdominal gunshot wounds and reduces the rates of negative or non-therapeutic laparotomy. Patients who require delayed laparotomy have similar rates of morbidity and mortality and similar length of stay to those patients who undergo immediate laparotomy.     

Civilian abdominal gunshot wounds in Durban, South Africa: a prospective study of 78 cases

INTRODUCTION

Violence has become part and parcel of the daily routine of living in South Africa. This prospective study of 78 patients who sustained abdominal gunshot wounds was undertaken to evaluate the pattern of injuries, treatment outcome and the role of selective conservative management.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients with abdominal gunshot wounds admitted into the accident and emergency department of Prince Mshyeni Memorial Hospital (PMMH) between January 2005 and June 2005 were included in this prospective study. Case notes were reviewed and data entered on a standard proforma by a single observer (IC).

RESULTS

A total of 78 patients who sustained abdominal gunshot wounds were included in the study. There were 68 males and 10 females with an age range of 16–60 years (median age, 25 years). Of these, 59 (76%) underwent emergency laparotomy and 19 (24%) were initially observed. Two patients in the observed group needed a delayed laparotomy, both with positive findings. Fifty-five (71%) patients had one entrance wound each and 23 (29%) had multiple entrance wounds. Forty-one (53%) patients had exit wounds and in 37 (47%) the bullet remained lodged in the body. The entrance wounds were in anterior abdominal wall in 50 patients, posterior trunk in 13, gluteal region in 11 and thorax in 4 patients, respectively. Twelve patients died, all from the emergency laparotomy group. There were two negative laparotomies from the laparotomy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Management of gunshot wounds is expensive and requires a variety of surgical skills. We recommend that a national database to which all gunshot wounds must be reported is required in order to assess the magnitude of the problem nationally as well as funding of research in injury control. This study along with many others shows that selective conservative management is feasible without the use of expensive investigations.     

腹腔镜技术在急腹症和腹部外伤中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜用于普通外科急腹症和腹部外伤的价值。方法:回顾分析2005年4月至2008年8月作者用腹腔镜诊治急腹症48例患者的临床资料。结果:48例患者中,胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔13例,急性阑尾炎9例,急性胆囊炎17例,腹部闭合性损伤4例,腹部开放性损伤1例,急性盆腔炎2例,肠梗阻2例。48例患者均在腹腔镜下确诊,43例在腹腔镜下完成手术,5例中转开腹。患者均获痊愈,无术后并发症及围手术期死亡。结论:腹腔镜技术集诊断与治疗于一体,是治疗急腹症和腹部外伤的有效方法。     

腹腔镜在急腹症中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜在急腹症中的应用价值。方法:回顾分析146例急腹症的临床资料及手术选择。结果:146例急腹症中134例在腹腔镜下完成诊断和治疗,占92.5%。结论:腹腔镜技术在诊断及治疗急腹症中具有安全、可靠、微创的特点,在鉴别诊断中尤有价值。     

外科急腹症时腹腔镜手术的应用

目的 :探讨应用腹腔镜治疗外科急腹症的价值。方法 :回顾分析 38例外科急腹症的临床资料以及与手术方式选择的相关因素。结果 :外科急腹症 38例中 32例在腹腔镜下完成了诊断和治疗 ,治疗成功率为 84 %。结论 :腹腔镜技术在外科急腹症诊断及治疗中具有独特的优势 ,既可明确诊断 ,又能同时进行治疗 ,疗效可靠 ,在鉴别诊断中尤有价值     

Craniocerebral gunshot wounds: a study of outcome predictors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A retrospective study about craniocerebral gunshot wounds was done to better identify outcome predictors. METHODS: We reported and analyzed the clinical and radiological data of 18 patients admitted to Le Kremlin-Bicêtre institute for a craniocerebral gunshot wound between January 2000 and December 2005. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used to analyze patient outcome. RESULTS: There were 17 men and one woman, mean age 43 years (range 17-84). Fifteen patients died, two had a GOS equal to 2 and one GOS equal to 3. There were 16 suicides and two murders. All patients with areactive bilateral mydriasis and all patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) less than seven died except one. The 10 patients with intraventricular hemorrhage died. The bullet crossed the midline for 13 patients and all of them died. None of the patients underwent emergency surgery for the treatment of craniocerebral gunshot wounds because of low Glasgow Coma Scale. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows some interesting prognosis patterns: bilateral areactive mydriasis, GCS less or equal to 7 and bullet trajectory (if crossing the midline) are the most important factors predicting a fatal outcome.     

腹腔镜在腹部外伤中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜诊断与治疗腹部外伤的临床价值。方法:回顾分析1996年8月至2004年8月85例腹腔镜诊治腹部外伤的临床资料。结果:85例均在腹腔镜下明确诊断,其中45例(52.9%)于镜下作治疗性手术,18例(21.2%)免作治疗性处理,22例(25.9%)中转开腹。术后并发症4例(4.7%)。全组均痊愈出院。结论:腹腔镜诊治腹部外伤具有创伤小、安全可靠、诊断率高并有效降低阴性剖腹探查率等优点。     

急诊腹腔镜的临床应用体会(附122例报告)

目的:探讨腹腔镜诊治外科急腹症的价值。方法:回顾分析122例腹腔镜急腹症手术的临床资料,其中急性胆囊炎47例,急性阑尾炎69例,胃穿孔4例,宫外孕2例。结果:122例患者中,122例患者,120例在腹腔镜下完成手术,成功率达98.36%,中转开腹2例,无严重并发症发生。结论:腹腔镜技术应用于外科急腹症,既可明确诊断,又能同时进行治疗,治疗成功率高,值得临床推广应用。     

The early prognosis of craniocerebral gunshot wounds in civilian practice as an aid to the choice of treatment

Summary The authors report a series of 56 cases of craniocerebral lesions secondary to missile injuries studied by means of CT scan. CT scans demonstrate the track of the missile, destruction of deep cerebral parenchyma, dissection of the white matter (intracerebral air) and reactive oedema. The prognostic incidence of CT is discussed. The CT scan helps to choose the best therapeutic management with respect to each particular case.     

Diagnostic laparoscopy for the acute abdomen and trauma

Background: We set out to investigate the potential benefits of routine diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) in cases of acute abdomen. Methods: A prospective study of 120 DL in acute abdominal cases was performed in comparison with 310 similar acute abdominal cases treated without DL. The diagnostic accuracy, hospital stay, therapeutic delay, and convalescence time were then evaluated. Results: DL established the indications for intervention in 96% of cases, yielded a diagnosis in 90%, and changed the treatment in 14%. The sensitivity achieved was 99.3%, specificity was 83.3%, and accuracy was 88.6%. There were two false positives, one false negative, and three results insufficient to make a diagnosis. Morbidity was one (0.8%), and mortality was one (0.8%). Seventy-nine patients (66%) were managed by laparoscopy and 24 by open interventions. The hospital stay in DL groups was shorter (median, 5 days vs 6 days in controls, p < 0.0003), as was the effective treatment time (median, 5 days vs 6 days, p<0.0012). The convalescence time was also shorter in DL groups (median, 14 days vs 14 days, p<0.04). Therapeutic delay occurred in 16% of the control group cases, doubling the morbidity rate, increasing mortality by 50%, and prolonging hospital stay (median, 9 days vs 6 days, p>0.3 (NS). Conclusions: DL in the acute abdomen is a safe and accurate procedure that enables laparoscopic interventions and helps avoid nontherapeutic surgery. DL and appropriate treatment reduces hospital stay, therapeutic delay, and convalescence time. Received: 14 July 1999/Accepted: 20 November 1999/Online publication: 22 August 2000     

腹腔镜在闭合性腹部损伤中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜诊治闭合性腹部损伤的可行性及优越性。方法:回顾分析腹腔镜诊治闭合性腹部损伤9例的临床资料。结果:9例中8例用腹腔镜诊治成功,1例因严重脾裂伤改开腹手术。结论:腹腔镜应用于闭合性腹部损伤具有诊断及时,检查全面,治疗合理,损伤小,恢复快且可避免开腹手术探查等优点。     

腹腔镜在外科急腹症中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜诊断与治疗急腹症的价值。方法:回顾分析2004年6月至2006年6月87例外科急腹症患者行腹腔镜探查及治疗的临床资料。结果:全部患者经腹腔镜检查均获得明确诊断,行腹腔镜手术治疗85例,中转开腹2例,主要原因是出血较多,暴露困难。结论:腹腔镜诊治急腹症准确、安全、有效,对明确诊断及鉴别诊断极有价值。     

腹腔镜在不明原因急腹症中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜在不明原因急腹症中的临床应用价值。方法:对16例不明原因急腹症患者采用腹腔镜探查并进行诊治,回顾分析其临床资料。结果:所有病例全部确诊病因,15例在腹腔镜下完成手术,1例中转开腹,无手术死亡。术后无伤口感染及其他并发症发生。结论:腹腔镜技术在急腹症诊断及治疗中具有安全、可靠、微创的特点,尤其在鉴别诊断中具有很高的价值。     

腹腔镜在外科急腹症诊治中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜技术在外科急腹症中的诊断与治疗价值。方法:回顾性分析了20例腹腔镜外科急腹症探查及疗效。结果:20例经腹腔镜探查全部明确诊断,17例免除开腹手术,所有病例均恢复顺利,无术后并发症及死亡。结论:急诊腹腔镜探查可以提高急腹症的确诊率,降低阴性剖腹探查率。     

Diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy for stab wounds of the anterior abdomen

BACKGROUND: At present, laparoscopy is used mainly as a diagnostic tool in patients with abdominal stab wounds. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two hemodynamically stable patients with isolated stab wounds of the anterior abdomen, thought to be penetrating, were prospectively selected to undergo treatment via a laparoscopic approach. When possible, parenchymal wounds were coagulated or sealed, and wounds to the intestines were sutured or stapled. RESULTS: The results of laparoscopy were negative in 6 (18.8%) of the cases: nonpenetrating wounds in 4 cases and nonsignificant organ injury in 2 cases. A hemoperitoneum was identified in 13 (40.6%) of the cases, and significant organ injuries in 26 (81.3%) of the cases: stomach, 2; small bowel, 5; colon, 2; pancreas, 1; vascular injuries, 4; liver, 5; mesentery, 9. Laparoscopy was therapeutic in 20 (62.3%) of the cases. Conversion to open surgery was required in 6 (18.8%) of the cases. No injuries were missed, and no mortality occurred. Postoperative complications developed in 2 (6.2%) of the cases. The mean hospital stay was 4 days, with no late complications. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy can avoid a number of unnecessary laparotomies and can treat most of the lesions found in hemodynamically stable patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds.     

腹腔镜技术在妇科急腹症中的应用价值

目的探讨腹腔镜技术在妇科急腹症治疗中的应用价值.方法回顾分析208例妇科急腹症的病情与手术方式选择的相关因素.结果腹腔镜手术比例逐年增加;腹腔镜组的各项指标均较开腹组有显著或极显著差异,如术前收缩期血压、内出血量、入院至进手术室时间和进手术室至切皮时间、术后住院日等(P＜0.001);工作日白班选择腹腔镜手术显著增多(P＜0.01),而工作日夜班及休息日选择开腹手术较多.结论腹腔镜手术在妇科急腹症治疗方面具有极高的应用价值,但尚受到病情急缓、仪器设备、医师技术水平、工作制度及经济条件等因素的限制.