Surgical Management of Abdominal Trauma: Indications and Outcomes in Two Emergency Units with Limited Infrastructure Resources in Yaound&amp;#233; (Cameroon)

Savom Eric Patrick,Ngo Nonga Bernadette,Bitang A Mafok Louis Joss,Bwelle Motto Georges Roger,Bang Guy Aristide,Biwole Biwole Daniel,Ekani Boukar Mahamat Yannick,Essomba Arthur

doi:10.4236/ss.2021.1210035

Surgical Management of Abdominal Trauma: Indications and Outcomes in Two Emergency Units with Limited Infrastructure Resources in Yaound&#233; (Cameroon)

Savom Eric Patrick, Ngo Nonga Bernadette + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ss.2021.1210035

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Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal trauma is a major public health concern. Their management is controversial and difficult. Operative indications are not codified in all situations. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross- sectional study over a period of 5 years, carried out in the surgical emergency department of the Central Hospital of Yaounde and the Emergency Centre of Yaounde. We reviewed retrospectively medical records of patients who had laparotomy after abdominal trauma. Results: We collected 115 files. There was a male predominance (83.47%) and the average age was 33.8 years. The average time to admission was 12.3 hours and the aetiologies were dominated by road traffic accidents (53%). Abdominal contusions represented 69.56% of cases and abdominal wounds 30.44% of cases. Indications for surgery were hemodynamic instability, evidence of a lesion of a hollow viscus, the presence of evisceration or a gunshot wound, and initial non-operative treatment failure. Postoperative morbidity was 9.56% and overall mortality was 3.47%. Conclusion: Surgical management of abdominal trauma is frequent in our setting, mainly indicated for hemodynamic instability. Results are good with a low morbi-mortality.

Highlights

Abdominal trauma is a major public health concern
We reviewed retrospectively medical records of patients who had laparotomy after abdominal trauma
We found a morbidity of 9.6% and a mortality of 3.5% closed to those found in the African literature [3] [6] [12] [15] [16] [17]

Summary

Introduction

Abdominal trauma is a major public health concern. Their management is controversial and difficult. Abdominal trauma (AT) is lesions produced at the level of the abdominal wall and/or its contents by an external agent They can be opened, by rupture of the parietal continuity (abdominal wounds), or closed (abdominal contusions), respecting the parietal continuity, and responsible for visceral lesions (full or hollow viscera) which can be life threatening. They are a major public health problem due to their frequency and their consequences, because they have a high mortality rate of up to 25% to 27% [1] [2]. The choice of the type of initial management depends on clinical and technical platform available [8]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion