Selective conservative treatment for anterior abdominal gunshot: a literature narrative review

The nonoperative treatment of anterior abdominal gunshot wounds remains controversial. This article presents a narrative review of the literature after the selection of studies in electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library and Lilacs), with the intention of evaluating the clinical and diagnostic tools that should be part of conservative selective approach of these lesions. It was observed that a nonoperative selective treatment can be effectively and safely used, when performed by a trained interdisciplinary team, working in adequate trauma centers. The selective nonoperative treatment is associated with a decrease in negative and nontherapeutic laparotomies, reducing the incidence of complications. It also contributes to the reduction of hospital costs.