Laparoscopy’s Underutilization in Abdominal Stab Wound Management

Despite conflicting guidelines, this study found that laparoscopy is infrequently used in stable patients with abdominal stab wounds. Among the included patients, only 7% received therapeutic laparoscopy and 8% underwent laparoscopy converted to open surgery. However, patients who underwent therapeutic laparoscopy had better outcomes, including shorter ICU and hospital stays and fewer infection complications. This suggests that laparoscopy could be a viable alternative to open surgery for select injuries, highlighting the need for increased utilization of this approach.