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Rationale for Exploratory Laparotomy

Ernest E. Moore, MD; John A. Marx, MD

JAMA. 1985;253(18):2705-2708.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

ESCALATION of civilian violence in our nation (Time, March 23, 1981, pp 16-21) continues to make physical trauma the leading cause of death in persons up to 38 years of age.² Life-threatening penetrating wounds to our President, the Pope, and countless innocent citizens provide the rationale to discuss the management of such injuries in a journal representing multiple specialty interests. During the ensuing decade since the review by Freeark,¹ considerable attention has been directed toward indications for celiotomy after a penetrating abdominal wound. This report summarizes these recent trends.

Historical Notes

Nonoperative management of penetrating abdominal wounds prevailed from the first recordings of medical history until the late 19th century. J. Marion Sims of Brooklyn, who is considered the first advocate of celiotomy for penetrating wounds, espoused this concept before the New York Academy of Medicine in 1881. Later in the same year, President James A. Garfield died of . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Surgery (Dr Moore) and Emergency Medicine (Dr Marx), Denver General Hospital; and the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver (Dr Moore).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Denver General Hospital, 777 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204-4507 (Dr Moore).

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