Abstract
Management of penetrating abdominal injuries has changed over time, evolving from mandatory laparotomy (LAP) and now including selective nonoperative management (SNOM). Indications for immediate LAP include hemodynamic instability, evisceration, peritonitis, or impalement. SNOM of stable, asymptomatic patients has been demonstrated to be safe. Adjunctive diagnostic testing (ultrasonography, computed tomography, local wound exploration, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, laparoscopy) may aid in identifying significant injuries that require operative management. However, prospective studies indicate that these tests are not cost-effective and frequently lead to nontherapeutic LAP.
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Lu, N., Biffl, W.L. (2022). Penetrating Abdominal Trauma. In: Pape, HC., Borrelli Jr., J., Moore, E.E., Pfeifer, R., Stahel, P.F. (eds) Textbook of Polytrauma Management . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95906-7_18
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