CURRENT CONCEPTS IN THE USE OF CAVITARY ENDOSCOPY IN THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF BLUNT AND PENETRATING TRUNCAL INJURIES

The proliferation of endoscopic procedures in the general surgical pat ient has added cavitary endoscopy to the armamentarium of the trauma s urgeon. It has provided us with a better way to diagnose certain injur ies and avoid unnecessary laparotomies. The role of laparoscopy in pen etrating injury to the thoracoabdominal region appears well establishe d. Its use in other regions and types of injury is less clear. Thoraco scopy is receiving renewed interest in the management of penetrating c hest injury but its exact role has yet to be defined.