Laparoscopic evaluation of tangential abdominal gunshot wounds
J. L. Sosa, D. Sims, L. Martin and R. Zeppa
Department of Surgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, School of Medicine, FL 33101.
The use of laparoscopy in abdominal trauma has been proposed for several
decades; however, it has not been widely used. With the advent of
laparoscopic cholecystectomy, general surgeons are realizing the potential
of this technique. This should result in an expanded role for laparoscopy,
including the evaluation of abdominal trauma. We present a series in which
laparoscopy was used in the evaluation of tangential gunshot wounds to the
abdomen. Laparoscopy enabled us to demonstrate whether the missile had
violated the peritoneal cavity and to avoid laparotomy in cases without
peritoneal penetration.
