J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2000 Mar;11(1):35-43.

Application of New Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage Criteria for Intestinal Injury in Abdominal Blunt Trauma

• So JI
• Heo T
• Min YI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) is a well-established, reliably objective method of diagnosis of intraperitoneal injury, it is too sensitive to be used as a absolute indicator for emergency laparotomy. Recently, Otomo et al, have devised a new DPL criteria specifically designed and modified the classics criteria to aid in diagnosis of intestinal injury. So the author studied the difference of diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between the new and classic criteria for intestinal injury.
METHODS
The author reviewed retrospectively one hundred fifteen patients underwent DPL from January 1993 to August 1999. The author adopted the classic criteria positive for intestinal injury when the lavage fluid was white blood cell(WBC) > or = 500/mm3 and newly developed supplementary criteria positive when RBC > or = 100,000/mm3, the positive-negative borderline was adjusted to WBC > or = RBC/150, and when RBC <100,000/mm3, to WBC > or = 500/mm3. And analyzed the difference of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy each other.
RESULTS
Among 115 patients, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for intestinal injury were 96.4%, 87.4%, and 89.6% for the new criteria, and 100%, 42.5%, and 56.5% for the classic criteria. After exclusion of 10 patients in whom-DPL was performed within 3 hours or after 18 hours from the time of injury, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for intestinal injury were 96.4%, 97.4%, and 97.1% for the new criteria, and 100%, 46.8%, and 61% for the classic criteria. When analyzed the time interval from injury to DPL in the new criteria, 105 patients that DPL was performed between 3 to 18 hours had 2 false-positive, while 115 patients regardless of DPL time 11 false-positive.
CONCLUSIONS
: The author concluded that the new criteria of DPL effluent performed between 3 to 18 hours from abdominal blunt trauma would be more specific and accurate indicator of intestinal perforation than the classic criteria. And this new criteria will be used as a reliable indicator for emergency laparotomy for that patients.

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Emergencies
Humans
Intestinal Perforation
Laparotomy
Peritoneal Lavage*
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Therapeutic Irrigation