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Article: Non-operative management of abdominal stab wounds--an analysis of 186 patients.(General Surgery)(Clinical report)
- Article from:
- South African Journal of Surgery
- Article date:
- November 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 South African Medical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Summary
Background. The modern management of abdominal stab wounds remains controversial and subject to continued reappraisal. In the present study we reviewed patients with abdominal stab wounds to examine and validate a policy of selective non-operative management with serial physical abdominal examination in a busy urban trauma centre with a high incidence of penetrating trauma.
Methods. Over a 12-month period (2005), the records of all patients with abdominal stab wounds were reviewed. Patients with abdominal stab wounds presenting with peritonitis, haemodynamic instability, organ evisceration and high spinal cord injury underwent emergency ...