Objective: The objective of our study was to determine how well CT predicts the need for laparotomy in hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating abdominal injury.
Materials and methods: We reviewed MEDLINE articles published from January 1994 through June 2008. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy were calculated for each source and collectively using a meta-analysis.
Results: Of 180 relevant studies, five were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled weighted estimates of sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and accuracy were 94.90%, 95.38%, 98.62%, 84.51%, and 94.70%, respectively.
Conclusion: CT in patients with penetrating abdominal trauma has high sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and accuracy, but has lower PPV in determining the need for laparotomy. It follows that CT is an indispensable tool in predicting the need for laparotomy in these patients but still has room for improvement.