Role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Penetrating Abdominal Trauma

Background and Objective: Trauma remains the major cause of mortality and disability among young people across the world with penetrating trauma being a very common cause. Traditionally, penetrating abdominal trauma was managed with exploration. But now with the advent of minimally access surgery and advancements in laparoscopic expertise, more patients can be managed with minimally invasive methods. This approach can save many unnecessary laparotomies and large midline incisions. The role of laparoscopy in blunt abdominal trauma is well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal injuries. Methods: All the penetrating abdominal trauma patients presenting to the emergency department of Rawal Medical and Dental hospital from January 2019 till December 2020 for a period of 2years (a total of 102 patients) and who were hemodynamically stable, between the ages of 20 to 50 years of either gender were included in the study. All these patients had equivocal abdominal findings with no signs to suggest serious intraabdominal injury. These patients were prepared as standard for general anesthesia and diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. A predesigned performa was used for entering the patients’ details and operative findings. All patients gave written informed consent in urdu. Main outcome measures were the conversion rate, missed injuries leading to reexploration. Results: 85%of the patients were males with only 15% females. Mean age of the population was 38.7 years .Conversion to open was required in only 6.12 % of the cases .Laparoscopy alone was sufficient for all other patients. In about 36% of the patients no intraabdominal injury was found. In rest 58% patients the surgeons were able to repair the injuries laparoscopically.18 patients had minor liver injury,10 patients had minor hemoperitoneum<100 ml without any significant injury and 2 patients had single small bowel perforation which was repaired laparoscopically and cavity was irrigated. No patient had post operative complications of peritonitis due to missed injury or bleeding leading to re exploration. Conclusion: Laparoscopy is a very effective procedure to deal with penetrating abdominal trauma patients who are stable and with equivocal abdominal findings without increasing risk of missed injury with minimal rates of conversion to open laparotomy if patients are selected vigilantly. Keywords: Penetrating, Diagnostic Laparoscopy, Abdominal Trauma

Patients With Combined Thermal and Intraabdominal Injuries: More Salvageable Than Not

This study aims to better characterize the course and outcome of the uncommon subset of trauma patients with combined thermal and intraabdominal organ injuries. The National Trauma Data Bank was queried for burn patients with intraabdominal injury treated in all U.S. trauma centers from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2015. General demographics, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), shock index (SI), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for burn, Injury Severity Score (ISS), blood transfusions, and abdominal surgery were evaluated. During the 5-year study period, there were 334 burn patients with intraabdominal injury, 39 (13.2%) of which received abdominal surgery. Burn patients who underwent operations had more severe injuries reflected by higher SI, AIS, ISS, blood transfusion, and worse outcomes including higher mortality, longer hospital and ICU length of stay, and more ventilator days compared to patients who did not undergo an operation. Nonsurvivors also exhibited more severe injuries, and a higher proportion received abdominal operation compared to survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GCS on arrival, SI, AIS, ISS, blood transfusion, and abdominal operation to be independent risk factors for mortality. Propensity score matching to control covariables (mean age, systolic blood pressure on arrival, GCS on arrival, SI, ISS, time to operation, blood transfusion, and comorbidities) showed that of trauma patients who received abdominal operation, those with concomitant burn injury exhibited a higher rate of complications but no significant difference in mortality compared to those without burns, suggesting that patients with concomitant burns are not less salvageable than nonburned trauma patients.

Modified Hasson technique: a quick and safe entry of first port into the abdomen

Background: Laparoscopy is the standard technique for abdominal surgeries. There has been a debate over the safest laparoscopic entry technique over the past two decades. But, no technique has been regarded as the best, leading to numerable techniques. We use a modified Hasson technique to enter the peritoneal cavity. Hence, we conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy of our modified Hasson technique.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Al Azhar Medical College Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018.Results: A total of 156 patients were studied. Inguinal hernia repair was the most common indication. The mean entry time was 2±0.7 minutes. The postoperative complications included port site seroma [1 (0.6%)] and port site infection [1 (0.6%)]. Both the complications were found at the umbilical port and all following surgery for appendicular perforation. There was no incidence of preperitoneal placement of port, intraabdominal injury, port site hematoma or port site hernia. There was no mortality in the study group.Conclusions: Modified Hasson technique is a safe and quick technique to enter the abdomen.

Distal revision of ventriculoperitoneal shunts using a peel-away sheath

The authors describe a new technique for revision of an occluded distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter that obviates the need for laparotomy or trocar insertion into the peritoneal cavity. The authors review their early experience with 34 patients suffering from a distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure and treated with this technique. There were no incidents of intraabdominal injury or wound complications. In 2 patients conversion to a minilaparotomy was required for safe placement of the shunt. Proper peritoneal placement was confirmed with abdominal radiographs in all cases. This technique has been safe and effective and may be considered an alternative to traditional laparotomy or laparoscopic methods.

Intraabdominal Injury is Common in Blunt Trauma Patients who Sustain Spinal Cord Injury

The evaluation of the abdomen in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is challenging for obvious reasons. There are very little data on the incidence and complications of patients who sustain SCI with concomitant intraabdominal injury (IAI). To determine the incidence and outcomes of IAI in blunt trauma patients with SCI, a trauma registry and record review was performed between January 1998 and December 2005. Baseline demographic data, Injury Severity Score, and associated IAI were collected. Two groups were established and outcomes were analyzed based on the presence or absence of IAI. Intraabdominal and hollow viscus injures were found in 15 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively, of 292 patients with blunt SCI. The presence of intraabdominal injury varied according to the level of the SCI: 10 per cent of cervical, 23 per cent of thoracic, and 18 per cent of lumbar SCI. The overall mortality was 16 per cent. The presence of intraabdominal injury was associated with longer intensive care unit length of stay (13 versus 6 days, P < 0.01), hospital length of stay (23 versus 18 days, P < 0.05), higher complication rate (46% versus 33%, P = 0.09), and higher mortality (44% versus 11%, P < 0.01) when compared with patients with SCI without IAI. Intraabdominal injuries are common in blunt SCI. Liberal evaluation with computed tomography is necessary to identify injuries early.