“Pop in a scope”: attempt to decrease the rate of unnecessary nontherapeutic laparotomies in hemodynamically stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries

ConclusionLaparoscopy is a safe diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating wound, with low complication rate,  and may avoid unnecessary laparotomies. The poor diagnostic performance of preoperative imaging exams supports routine laparoscopic evaluation of the diaphragm to exclude injuries in these patients.
Source: Surgical Endoscopy - Category: Surgery Source Type: research