Abstract
In order to reassess the value of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, we conducted a prospective study over a 15-month period involving 138 patients. There were 29 (28.3%) patients with positive DPL and 103 (71.7%) with negative DPL in this series. Of the 29 patients with positive DPL, 28 (96.5%) were found to have significant intra abdominal injuries; 27 by exploratory laparotomy and in one case at autopsy. One patient with a grossly positive DPL had a negative exploratory laparatomy (3.4% false positive rate). All 109 patients with negative DPL were admitted. In only one case a significant intra-abdominal injury was demonstrated (0.9% false negative rate). The overall mortality in this series was 11.6% and there were no complications related to the DPL. Our results suggest that DPL is indeed an accurate indicator of significant intra-abdominal injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-5 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1987 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine