Open versus closed peritoneal lavage with particular attention to time, accuracy, and cost.

One hundred consecutive patients with blunt abdominal trauma, thoracoabdominal stab wounds, or anterior abdominal stab wounds with fascial penetration were prospectively randomized to either an open or closed technique for diagnostic peritoneal lavage. The closed or percutaneous technique of lavage was consistently faster to perform, of comparable cost, associated with fewer complications, and as accurate as the open technique.