DOI: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181bbf73f

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Issn Print: 0022-5282

Publication Date: 2009/11/01


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Re: Serial Clinical Assessments for Abdominal Stab Wounds

Walter L. Biffl; Ernest E. Moore; Clay Cothren Burlew

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We appreciate the comments of Drs. Soffer and Cohn. We were similarly surprised at the relatively infrequent baseline use of serial abdominal examination by the study participants. However, as our proposed algorithm indicates, we have adopted serial abdominal examination as the primary management strategy for those patients with peritoneal violation but no immediate indication for surgery.
As Drs. Soffer and Cohn suggest, it may ultimately prove safe to decrease the observation period to 12 hours. In fact, in the current prospective phase of the study, every patient requiring laparotomy has manifested the need within 4 hours.
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