[Diagnosis and management of abdominal injuries (author's transl)].

Prognosis and mortality rate of abdominal injuries are substantially influenced by early diagnosis and thereby early definite operative treatment. Especially in cases of multiple traumata a subtle search for intraabdominal lesions in needed. 242 patients with abdominal traumata were analysed. 142 (= 58%) of them had contusions of the abdominal wall only, 83 (= 36%) had blunt and 17 (= 6%) had perforating abdominal injuries. In two-third of blunt traumata with organ lesions the operation was indicated only by clinical symptoms. The preoperative radiological examinations revealed organ lesions in 23,7% of cases. In addition to clinical and radiological examinations peritoneal lavage is an important diagnosis test of abdominal organ lesions. A laparotomy for diagnostic reasons should never be done before peritoneal lavage which can be used even in smaller hospitals.