Diagnostic peritoneal lavage in hemodynamically stable patients with lower chest or anterior abdominal stab wounds

Managing hemodynamically stable patients with thoracoabdominal stab wounds is still under dispute. This study aimed at discussing cut-off points of red blood cell (RBC) count in diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) effluent in these patients.

Three hundred and eighty-eight patients with thoracoabdominal stab wounds and hemodynamically stable status were enrolled. In cases without a clear indication of laparotomy, the peritoneal cavity was washed out with 1000 ml of normal saline and the effluent fluid was analyzed for RBC count. RBC counts of >100,000/mm3 in abdominal wounds and of >10,000/mm3 in lower chest wounds were considered as indications for exploratory laparotomy (conventional approach). New cut-off points for RBC count were calculated in backward analysis.

Sensitivity and specificity of the conventional approach were 90% and 84%, respectively. RBC counts >15,000/mm3 in abdominal wounds and >25,000/mm3 in lower chest wounds were the best cut-off points in distinguishing patients with and without need of operation, with a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 96%, respectively.

New cut-off points of RBC count in DPL effluent may promote management of patients with thoracoabdominal stab wounds and no obvious indication for operation.