Nonoperative management of both blunt and penetrating injuries can be challenging. Over the past two decades, there has been a major shift from operative to selective nonoperative management of traumatic injuries. The increased utilization of nonoperative, or 'conservative', surgical management of abdominal solid organ injuries is facilitated by the various sophisticated and highly accurate noninvasive imaging tools at the trauma surgeon's disposal. This review discusses selected topics in nonoperative management of both blunt and penetrating trauma. Potential complications and pitfalls of nonoperative management are discussed. Adjunctive interventional therapies used in treatment of nonoperative management-related complications are also discussed.

Copyright 2007 OPUS 12 Foundation, Inc.