[General approach to penetrating abdominal traumas of Turkish general surgeons: survey of practice].

Background: In patients with penetrating abdominal traumas (PATs), selective non-operative management (SNOM) has been widely accepted. This study was designed to investigate the practice trends among Turkish surgeons regarding SNOM.
Mehtohds: The study was conducted as an online survey. Participants' demographic characteristics and their management trends and opinions regarding patients with PATs and SNOM were studied. Data were recorded using MS Excel® and analyzed.
Results: A total of 180 surgeons participated in the survey. SNOM approach rate in patients with stab injuries (SI) was 64%, whereas in patients with gunshot injuries (GSI), this rate was 52%. However, more than 90% of the surgeons declared that additional diagnostic studies were required before selecting SNOM approach in both SI and GSI. In addition, most of the surgeons who did not use SNOM in practice reported that they did not want to risk the patients' lives or their careers.
Discussion: Although our surgeons have constructive opinions and tendencies regarding contemporary approaches in the management of PATs, it is seen that nearly half of them prefer not to perform SNOM in practice for various reasons. We believe that approval of trauma and emergency surgery disciplines as subspecialties and funding- centralized trauma centers might correct this deficiency.