Table 2 Assessing the role of clinical presentation and abdominal computed tomography as the dominant factors leading to re-laparotomy (39 patients)

Clinical findings as the main factor leading to urgent re-laparotomy, without straightforward imaging evidence of intra-abdominal abnormalities—total 8 patients (number of cases (%)

 Hemodynamic instability

3 (7.7)

 Septic shock

1 (2.6)

 Active bleeding (blood emerging from surgical drains)

1(2.6)

 Fecal content emerging from surgical drains

2(5.1)

 Acute abdomen

2(5.1)

 Small bowel obstruction

1(2.6)

 Abdominal wall evisceration

2(5.1)

Abdominal computed tomography findings as the dominant factor leading to re-laparotomy (with a paucity of abnormal clinical signs – 14 patients)

 Intra-abdominal free air and significant free fluid

4(10.6)

 Intra-abdominal foreign body

3(7.7)

 Intra-abdominal shrapnel in the vicinity of vital organs (IVC etc.)

2(5.1)

 Inflammatory peritoneal involvement, fat opacity and fluid collections

4(10.3)

 Suspected colorectal and urinary bladder injury

5(12.8)

 Intestinal fistula to vagina and urinary bladder

3(7.7)

Combined abnormal clinical presentation and abdominal CT modalities leading to urgent re-laparotomy – 17 patients

 Hemodynamic instability and penetrating wound together with free abdominal gas and active vascular bleeding

1 (2.6)

 Intra-abdominal fecal drainage together with extra-luminal gas and fluid collections, and fat opacity in the abdomen

4(10.3)

 Abdominal tenderness and drainage of intestinal contents together with demonstration of traumatic diaphragmatic herniation (stomach, intestine)

1(2.6)

 Abdominal tenderness and penetrating wound together with intra-peritoneal gas, fluid collections and foreign bodies

1(2.6)

 Hemodynamic instability and abdominal compartment syndrome together with peritoneal free gas and fluids

1(2.6)

 Sepsis, abdominal tenderness, fecal drainage together with peritoneal shrapnel, intestinal wall thickening, free fluid and gas

3(7.7)

 Drainage of bile and worms from abdominal wound together with free gas and fluid and free peritoneal intestinal contrast

1(2.6)

 Dirty drainage from pleural drain together with supra-hepatic free fluid with gas bubbles

1(2.6)

 Open chest wound, severe abdominal wall wound and protruding pads, together with foreign body in the proximity of large intestine, and free abdominal gas

1(2.6)

 Fever, tachycardia, gluteal dirty drainage together with gas bubbles and fluid anterior to psoas muscle

1(2.6)

 Suspected intestinal fistula and fecal drainage together with intestinal obstruction, shrapnel and free peritoneal fluid and gas bubbles

2(5.1)