Role of laparoscopy in penetrating anterior abdominal wall injuries

Abstract

Background: Penetrating abdominal trauma in patients is associated with severe morbidity and sometimes death. The incidence of penetrating trauma varies widely over the world. Similarly, the global experience with laparoscopy in trauma patients varied. Many recent investigations have indicated that laparoscopy plays a useful function in such cases. Objective: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT) patients with respect to the precision and effectiveness of care and the avoidance of needless laparotomy. Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted at Sohag University Hospitals, Sohag, Egypt. We included all patients with penetrating anterior abdominal wall injuries who were vitally stable. Results: We involved 60 patients who were admitted to the Emergency Room after suffering from penetrating abdominal injuries. The patients’ mean age was 37.4 years and the percentage of male patients was higher (81.67%). Stab wounds accounted for 60% of injuries while gunshot wounds accounted for 40%. Hospital stay in laparoscopy was longer due to gastric, small intestinal, and colonic injuries. The average operation time in laparoscopy was 2.5 hours and about 2.25 hours in laparotomy. There were no post-operative complications in the form of postoperative leakage or wound infection found in the studied patients. Conclusion: Stab wounds were more common than gunshot wounds and the laparoscopic approach proved to be accurate and effective in the management of PAT and led to successful avoidance of unnecessary laparotomy. The patients experienced an uncomplicated course, with no postoperative complications and relatively short hospitalization. Further research and studies should be conducted to evaluate the long-term outcomes and potential benefits of laparoscopy in PAT cases, including larger sample sizes and comparative analyses.