Visceral artery pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula following penetrating abdominal injuries is a rarely observed complication. Presently described is the case of a 44-year-old male admitted to the hospital after having previously experienced penetrating abdominal trauma. The patient had developed a pseudoaneurysm in the superior mesenteric artery and an arteriovenous fistula between the s...

BACKGROUND The optimal management of hemodynamically stable asymptomatic patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds (AASWs) remains controversial. The goal is to identify and treat injuries in a safe cost-effective manner. Common evaluation strategies are local wound exploration (LWE), diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), serial clinical assessment (SCAs) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. ...

CONTEXT The main pancreatic duct can form a fistulous communication with another epithelium in the setting of prolonged inflammation, operative manipulation, or direct trauma. We present a rare complication of a pancreaticoureteral fistula following a trauma nephrectomy. CASE REPORT A 17-year-old male who sustained a gunshot wound to the back arrived to our Emergency Room hyopotensive, tachyc...

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly utilized in the trauma setting. When properly applied, it offers several advantages, including reduced morbidity, lower rates of negative laparotomy, and shortened length of hospital stay. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of laparoscopy in the management of trauma patients with penetrating abdominal injuries. METH...

BACKGROUND The use of prophylactic antibiotics in penetrating abdominal trauma has resulted in decreased infection rates. The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) first published its practice management guidelines (PMGs) for the use of prophylactic antibiotics in penetrating abdominal trauma in 1998. During the next decade, several new prospective studies were published on this ...

Current Opinion in Critical Care 2010, 16:609–617 Purpose of review Patients with penetrating abdominal trauma are at risk of harboring life-threatening injuries. Many patients are in need of emergent operative intervention. However, there are clearly patients who can be safely managed nonoperatively. This review evaluates the literature to identify management guidelines for patients with penet...

BACKGROUND We sought to characterize risk factors for failed closure after damage-control laparotomy and to examine the impact of two broad categories of open abdomen-management technique on rates of fascial approximation. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed (January 2006-December 2008) all trauma patients with an open abdomen after damage-control laparotomy. Patients with definitive abdomina...