Conservative management of multi-trauma induced peritonitis: Experience, outcomes, and indications

BACKGROUND: The concept of mandatory laparotomy in treating traumatic peritonitis has been increasingly questioned recently. AIM: To summarize and share the experience of conservative treatment of patients with multi-trauma induced peritonitis. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients with multiple injury induced traumatic peritonitis. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients with multiple injury induced traumatic peritonitis were reviewed. 46 of them underwent conservative treatment. None of the 46 patients with conservative treatment switched to surgical treatment, and all of them were cured and discharged after successful conservative treatment. No significant abnormal findings were observed at regular follow-up after discharge. CONCLUSION: Conservative management is safe, effective, feasible, and beneficial in hemodynamically stable patients with traumatic peritonitis if there is no definite evidence of severe abdominal visceral organ injury.