[Management of abdominal stab injuries]

This is a retrospective study of 56 abdominal stab wounds analysed with reference to aetiology, pattern of injury, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and indications for surgery. Indications for mandatory laparotomy were a manifest haemorrhagic shock (n = 20), evisceration (n = 13) and persisting presence of a weapon in the abdomen (n = 2). All patients who did not undergo immediate surgery were observed closely in repeated physical examination, in some cases complemented by ultrasound examination or peritoneal lavage. The indications for surgery were then based on the development of clinical signs. As a result of this selective approach, 31 patients underwent surgery immediately, 21 patients within 4 h and 4 patients more than 4 h after the initial assessment. The unnecessary laparotomy rate was 10.8%. The mortality rate was 3.5%, but in no case did death result from the selective approach.