Management over Penetrating Wound of the Chest in University Hospital of Conakry

Abstract

Penetrating injuries to the chest present a frequent and challenging problem. The majority of these injuries can be managed non-operatively. The aim of this study were to determine the frequency of penetrating wounds of the chest, identifying wounding agents and circumstances of the trauma occurred, describe the diagnostic and therapeutic care at the University Hospital of Conakry. Methods As part of this study was the thoracic surgery department of the National Hospital Donka Hospital in Conakry. This was a retrospective descriptive study of a type of 4 years and 8 months, from 1 January 2010 to 30 August 2015 inclusive. It involved a chart review of patients admitted consecutively in the service for penetrating trauma of Thorax. The variables studied were epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic. Results: We collected 98 cases of penetrating wounds of the chest during the study period, representing 21.16% of all thoracic pathologies treated in the service during the same period (n = 463). The male occupied 87% of cases (n = 85) and the female gender was 13% (13). The average age of patients of patients was 25 years with extremes of 04 and 60 years. The age between 21 and30 years is the most represented with 59.19% (n = 58). Pupils and students were most concerned with 31.63% (n = 31), followed by workers (23.46%, n = 23), street vendors (20.40%, n = 20) and drivers (15.30%, n = 30). The wounding agents were represented by stabbing with 67% (n = 66), firearms with 26% (n = 25), and impalement on perforating agents in 7% (n = 7%). The circumstances of occurrence recorded were armed criminal assault in 87.75% (n = 86), hunting accidents with 5.10% (n = 5), brawls with 4.08% (n = 4) and falls from height with 3.06% (n = 3). Conclusion Penetrating wounds of the chest are a current pathology by increased violence, insecurity and the misuse of firearms in major cities. The vital importance of intra thoracic organs is a medical and surgical emergency.