Laparoscopy in the evaluation of penetrating XXXX .

@entity1 @entity3117 @entity823 @entity1576 @entity3511 @entity204 @entity130
The evaluation of penetrating @entity823 for the presence of a @entity130 presents a diagnostic challenge to the @entity130 surgeon. The use of diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) in this setting was reviewed at a level-one @entity130 institution. Eighty @entity1 (71 males, 9 females) with penetrating injuries to the thoracoabdominal region underwent DL to rule out @entity130 . Fifty-eight @entity1 (72.5%) had a negative study and were spared a celiotomy. In the remaining 22 @entity1 (27.5%), @entity130 was identified. This subset of @entity1 underwent a mandatory celiotomy to rule out an associated @entity3511 . Seventeen out of 22 (77.2%) @entity1 had a positive exploration requiring surgical intervention, representing an associated @entity3511 rate of 21.2 per cent. Intra-abdominal injuries requiring repair included small bowel, colon, spleen, liver, and stomach, in descending order. There were no missed injuries or @entity204 . One @entity1 with a left @entity130 secondary to a stab wound developed a @entity3117 . @entity1576 secondary to atelectasis was the most common complication. Diagnostic laparoscopy is an essential and safe modality for the evaluation of @entity130 in penetrating @entity823 .
