[Pneumoperitoneum in polytraumatized patients without perforated hollow viscera]. / Neumoperitoneo en politraumatismo sin perforación de víscera hueca.

Bowel and mesenteric injuries from blunt abdominal trauma are infrequent and difficult to diagnose. A finding of pneumoperitoneum on computed tomography is useful, although not specific. In associated blunt chest trauma gas can reach the peritoneal cavity through congenital or post-traumatic diaphragmatic interruptions. Two cases of pneumoperitoneum following associated blunt chest and abdominal trauma are reported. In both patients laparotomy did not show bowel perforation and conservative treatment could have been provided.

Use of the national noscomial infection surveillance system risk index for prediction of mortality: results of a 6-year postdischarge follow-up study.

A positive linear trend (P<.001) between the National Noscomial Infection Surveillance system (NNIS) risk index and mortality was observed in 2,848 general surgery patients followed up 6 years after discharge. In stratified analyses, the NNIS risk index predicted mortality in patients with chronic disease (P=.007, by test for trend) but not in the remaining patients.