Dataset Information

Outcomes of selective nonoperative management of civilian abdominal gunshot wounds: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although mandatory laparotomy has been standard of care for patients with abdominal gunshot wounds (GSWs) for decades, this approach is associated with non-therapeutic operations, morbidity, and long hospital stays. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to summarize outcomes of selective nonoperative management (SNOM) of civilian abdominal GSWs.

Methods

We searched electronic databases (March 1966-April 1, 2017) and reference lists of articles included in the systematic review for studies reporting outcomes of SNOM of civilian abdominal GSWs. We meta-analyzed the associated risks of SNOM-related failure (defined as laparotomy during hospital admission), mortality, and morbidity across included studies using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by calculating I ² statistics and conducting tests of homogeneity.

Results

Of 7155 citations identified, we included 41 studies [n?=?22,847 patients with abdominal GSWs, of whom 6777 (29.7%) underwent SNOM]. The pooled risk of failure of SNOM in hemodynamically stable patients without a reduced level of consciousness or signs of peritonitis was 7.0% [95% confidence interval (CI)?=?3.9-10.1%; I ² =?92.6%, homogeneity p?I ² =?0%, homogeneity p?>?0.99). In patients who failed SNOM, the pooled estimate of the risk of therapeutic laparotomy was 68.0% (95% CI?=?58.3-77.7%; I ² =?91.5%; homogeneity p?I ² =?0%; homogeneity p?=?0.45), flank (7.0%; 95% CI?=?3.9-10.1%), and back (3.1%; 95% CI?=?0-6.5%) GSWs and highest in those that evaluated patients with anterior abdomen (13.2%; 95% CI?=?6.3-20.1%) GSWs. In patients who underwent mandatory abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT), the pooled risk of failure was 4.1% versus 8.3% in those who underwent selective CT (p?=?0.08). The overall sample-size-weighted mean hospital length of stay among patients who underwent SNOM was 6 days versus 10 days if they failed SNOM or developed an in-hospital complication.

Conclusions

SNOM of abdominal GSWs is safe when conducted in hemodynamically stable patients without a reduced level of consciousness or signs of peritonitis. Failure of SNOM may be lower in patients with GSWs to the back, flank, or right thoracoabdomen and be decreased by mandatory use of abdominopelvic CT scans.

SUBMITTER: Al Rawahi AN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6260713 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundIn civilian life, from 11 to 40% of patients suffer from chronic pain after receiving injuries. There are almost no data on chronic pain in patients with gunshot wounds, isolated clinical cases have been published. The purpose of our study is to determine the factors that can potentially affect the results of treatment of such patients, namely the frequency of development of chronic pain, acute stress reactions, satisfaction with the results of treatment and the number of wound localizations.MethodsThe treatment of 769 patients was analyzed. Pain intensity was diagnosed using a visual analog scale (VAS). To detect neuropathic pain, the Douleur Neuropathique 4 questions (DN4). The presence of an acute stress reaction (ASR) was diagnosed using The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and medical history, the diagnosis was established by a psychiatrist. Satisfaction with treatment results was studied using the Chaban quality of life scale (CQLS). Group comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney test and the chi-square test, taking into account continuity correction.ResultsChronic pain was observed in 538 (70% 95% CI 66.7%-73.1%) patients with gunshot wounds: of them, 439 patients had wounds in 1, 2 anatomical parts of the body, here the frequency of pain chronicity is 69.7% (95% CI 66.0%-78.5%), and 99 patients had wounds in 3 or more anatomical parts of the body - 71.2% (95%CI 63.4%-78.5%). DN4 data suggest the presence of a neuropathic pain component in these patients. Also, all patients were diagnosed with ASR upon admission: the number of HADS points ranged from 9 to 25 points. CQLS data indicate that satisfaction with treatment outcomes was high (76 points) before hospital discharge, but subsequently decreased to a low level (64 points).ConclusionsPatients with gunshot wounds have a high risk of chronic pain, averaging 45% higher than the general population in civilian trauma patients. A greater frequency of the neuropathic component of pain and acute stress reactions is the reason for such chronicity. A decrease in the level of satisfaction with the results of treatment, in the remote period of observation, compared to the level at the time of discharge from the hospital, is probably a consequence of the formation of chronic pain.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: Retrospectively registered on August 1, 2022, NCT05489029.