Role of diagnostic laparoscopy in penetrating anterior abdominal wall trauma.

To cite: Parizh D, Meytes V, Kopatsis A. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2016217646 DESCRIPTION A man aged 38 years who underwent assault, presented with a stab wound to the anterior abdomen, LLQ (figure 1A). He was haemodynamically stable, no peritoneal signs on abdominal examination, FAST and local wound explorations were inconclusive. CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis did not show any obvious evidence of small bowel injury (figure 1B). Owing to the proximity of the small bowel to the abdominal wall, the patient was admitted and monitored for delayed diagnosis and injury in our level I trauma centre. Over the next 6 hours, the patient gradually became more tachycardic, with mild abdominal distension. Emergent diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, yielding a knuckle of small bowel protruding into the abdominal wall (figure 1C) and an enterotomy in the distal jejunum (figure 1D), which was resected and a primary anastomosis was performed.