NON-THERAPEUTIC OPERATIONS FOR PENETRATING TRAUMA - EARLY MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY

A prospective study was carried out to assess the incidence and type o f complications after non-therapeutic operations for penetrating traum a. A total of 372 operations were performed on 368 patients with penet rating injuries to the abdomen (240 procedures), chest (49), neck (48) and extremities (35). There were 46 negative or non-therapeutic opera tions. The incidence of major complications directly related to anaest hesia or operation in this group of patients was 4 per cent (two patie nts). The operation might have contributed to a further three major co mplications. The mean hospital stay for patients undergoing uncomplica ted non-therapeutic operation was 4.1 days; for those with complicatio ns it was 21.2 days. It is concluded that non-therapeutic operations f or penetrating trauma carry a significant morbidity rate. A policy of selective conservatism is advocated.