Penetrating Wounds of the Torso

Selective nonoperative management of penetrating torso injury from combat fragmentation wounds.

BACKGROUND Historically, military surgical doctrine has mandated exploratory laparotomy for all penetrating fragmentation wounds. We hypothesized that stable patients with abdominal fragmentation injuries whose computerized tomography (CT) scans for intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal penetration disclosed nothing abnormal, can be safely observed without therapeutic laparotomy. METHODS We retr...

Penetrating wounds of the heart.

Penetrating Wounds of the Chest.

The immediate effects depend on the size, shape, type, velocity and track of the missile. A high velocity rifle or machine-gun bullet entering the chest through an intercostal space and making its way out through a posterior space may occasion, apart from the initial shock, little disability and with luck no complications. A small more slowly moving vulnerant may produce a punctured wound such ...

Penetrating Wounds of the Abdomen

Penetrating Wounds of the Abdominal Cavity

The first experience with diagnosis and treatment of open injuries to the abdomen in the specialized department of polytrauma is summarized. Surgical tactics stipulates early diagnosis of the possible injuries to the internal organs, and emergency operative intervention with the volume depending on the character of an injury, severity of the state of a patient.