Table 2 Baseline characteristics laparotomy

Indication for laparotomy

- Hemodynamic instability

107

68

39

<0.001

- Penetrating injury*

42

41

2

- Suspicion of hollow viscus injury

61

59

2

- Ongoing blood loss

24

21

3

- Retroperitoneal (pancreas/duodenum/vascular)

11

11

0

- Severe abdominal pain

10

10

0

- Suspicion of diaphragm injury

5

5

0

- Ileus after trauma

6

6

0

- Abdominal compartment syndrome

2

2

0

CT-scan before laparotomy (missing = 2)

168

154 (69%)

14 (31%)

<0.001

Average time to laparotomy > 24 h (days)

5.6 (± 4.8)

7.7 (± 7.6)

NS

Time to laparotomy (hours)

 0–2 h

190

149

41

 2–6 h

17

16

1

 6–24 h

24

24

0

 > 24 h

37

34

3

Injuries found (numbers)

- Spleen

87

71

16

NS

- Liver

71

56

15

NS

- Stomach

19

13

6

0.073

- Pancreas

12

10

2

NS

- Duodenum

11

9

2

NS

- Colon defect

70

62

8

0.091

- Short bowel defect

52

47

5

0.084

- Bowel/mesentery contusion

94

77

17

NS

- Kidney

30

25

5

NS

- Bladder

8

5

3

NS

- Diaphragm

28

20

8

0.068

- Vascular injury

47

29

18

< 0.001

- Retroperitoneal major vascular

63

44

19

0.002

- Abdominal wall defect

28

24

4

NS

- Pelvic fractures

54

43

11

NS

- Secondary caecum blowout

7

6

1

NS

Time of procedure (min)

62.0 (± 30.0)

61.5 (± 28.8)

61.4 (± 32.5)

NS

Number of laparotomies per patient

1.8 (± 1.4)

1.8 (± 1.5)

1.5 (± 0.8)

Procedures during laparotomy (n)

486

- Damage control surgery

105

67

38

<0.001

- Non-therapeutic laparotomy

40

35

5

NS

- Abdominal packing

111

77

34

<0.001

- Splenectomy/Spleen preserving

53

41

12

NS

- (Partial) hepatectomy

2

2

0

NS

- Liver repair (sealants, sutures)

17

15

2

NS

- Nephrectomy/renal repair

7

4

3

NS

- Gastric repair

16

12

4

NS

- Colonic resection

35

29

6

NS

- Colonic repair (suture)

48

46

4

0.049

- Short bowel resection

26

22

4

NS

- Short bowel repair (suture)

36

32

4

NS

- Anastomosis (colon/short bowel)

46

44

4

0.035

- (Partial) pancreatectomy

2

1

1

NS

- Duodenal repair (anastomosis)

5

4

1

NS

- Pancreatic/duodenal suture/drainage

10

9

1

NS

- Urinary bladder repair

6

5

1

NS

- Vascular ligation (small vessels)

55

41

14

0.041

- Vascular repair (large vessels)

13

4

9

<0.001

- Diaphragm repair

29

21

8

0.082

- Evacuation bile/hematoma

4

4

0

NS

- Abdominal wall repair

20

19

1

NS

LOS intensive care (days)

5.12 (± 8.8)

6.06 (± 9.9)

3.39 (± 4.9)

0.002

LOS Hospital (days)

16.2 (± 20.6)

19.4 (± 21.7)

3.72 (± 5.3)

<0.001