DIAGNOSTIC PERITONEAL LAVAGE IN PATIENTS WITH BLUNT ABDOMINAL TRAUMA

Abstract

In this study, 129 patients with blunt abdominal trauma who were admitted to the Emergency Service o1 Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University have been evaluated prospectively by diagnostic peritoneal lavage method. The indications for diagnostic peritoneal lavage were considered to be; doubtful clinical findings, head trauma, loss of conscience because of alcohol and drug intake, the situations resulting with changes in perception of pain such as spinal cord injuries. The result of the diagnostic peritoneal lavage performed in 129 patients was as follows; while with 62% of the patients the result was positive, 30% was negative and 8% was doubtful. Intervention in patients with doubtful diagnostic peritoneal lavage findings were repeated 6 hours later and two of them underwent laparotomy. As a result, we concluded that though it is not an ideal method, diagnostic peritoneal lavage must be performed for early diagnostic of the patients with blunt abdominal trauma who need emergency surgical intervention.