Negative trauma celiotomy

A retrospective review of 525 consecutive exploratory celiotomies for abdominal trauma occurring between January 1987 and June 1990 in an urban trauma center was conducted. One hundred-fifteen patients sustained blunt abdominal trauma (21%), and 410 patients sustained penetrating abdominal trauma (78%). Penetrating injuries included 260 gunshot wounds and 150 stab wounds. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A (16%), no visceral injuries identified at exploration (true negative); Group B, positive operative findings at celiotomy requiring no operative repair (10%) (nontherapeutic celiotomy); and Group C (74%), injuries encountered requiring operative repair (true positive)