Splenic rupture due to extraperitoneal gunshot wound: use of peritoneal lavage in the low-tech environment.

The upsurge in armed conflicts and civil unrest around the world will result in the need to treat gunshot wounds in austere conditions. This report details a splenic injury that resulted from a gunshot of the torso that did not penetrate the peritoneum. The author made the diagnosis using peritoneal lavage, which can be adapted to field conditions.