A retrospective review of 89 stab wounds to the abdomen and chest.

This study compared the admission findings in 89 stab victims with the subsequent severity of their injury. The majority of patients were young males who arrived at hospital after 2300 h on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and had consumed alcohol prior to admission. The presence of "clinical shock" or absent bowel sounds was invariably associated with significant injury. However, 64 of the 89 patients in this study had a normal blood pressure and audible bowel sounds at the time of admission. Thirty of the 64 patients had also suffered significant injury, which frequently was a perforated viscus. A diagnostic laparotomy should be readily performed in such patients in view of the high incidence of occult injury. Experienced anaesthetic support is necessary to ensure a low mortality from the actual laparotomy.