A Reassessment of the Peritoneal Lavage Leukocyte Count in Blunt Abdominal Trauma.
Publication/Presentation Date
10-1-1990
Abstract
Nine hundred and three patients undergoing diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) over a 6-year period were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the utility of the white blood cell (WBC) count in the lavage fluid. Eleven patients (1.2%) had dialysate WBC counts greater than 500/mm3, with erythrocyte counts less than 10(5)/mm3. Nine of these patients who were lavaged within 4 hours of injury had no intra-abdominal pathology. Two patients, lavaged after 4 hours, demonstrated intra-abdominal injury. Two hundred twenty-three patients (24.7%) had grossly clear dialysate which was not sent for laboratory analysis. None of these patients required laparotomy. We conclude that the WBC count in DPL fluid is of no diagnostic value in victims of blunt abdominal trauma who are lavaged within 4 hours of injury. In addition, laboratory analysis of clear dialysate is not required in these patients.
Volume
30
Issue
10
First Page
1291
Last Page
1293
ISSN
0022-5282
Published In/Presented At
D'Amelio, L. F., & Rhodes, M. (1990). A reassessment of the peritoneal lavage leukocyte count in blunt abdominal trauma. The Journal Of Trauma, 30(10), 1291-1293.
Disciplines
Medical Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Surgery
PubMedID
2213937
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article