An audit of failed non-operative management of abdominal stab wounds

Abstract Selective non-operative management based on clinical assessment has been shown to be a generally safe approach in the management of penetrating stab wounds of the torso. However there will be a subset of patients who fail selective non-operative management. This audit focuses on the failures. Methods The metropolitan surgical service in Pietermaritzburg covers 3 hospitals. At the weekly metropolitan morbidity and mortality meeting all trauma patients are reviewed. All cases of failed selective non-operative management of penetrating abdominal stab wounds are discussed. Failed non-operative management is usually defined as any patient who ultimately requires surgical exploration. We do not subscribe to this as we feel as long as the need for surgical intervention is recognised within a short period of time (