Blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma.

Physical examination and selected x-rays are helpful in diagnosing blunt abdominal trauma. Peritoneal lavage may assist in diagnosis of free abdominal blood. Stab wounds may be trivial injuries to the abdominal wall or penetrations of the peritoneum and underlying viscera. The "stabogram" offers some diagnostic help in selecting patients for operation. Gunshot wounds require laparotomy. The spleen is the solid organ most often injured in blunt trauma. Splenectomy is the only satisfactory treatment for this injury.