TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Penetrating abdominal injuries in adults seen at two teaching hospitals in Ghana
JO  - Ghana medical journal
A1  - Ohene-Yeboah, M.
A1  - Dakubo, J. C. B.
A1  - Boakye, F.
A1  - Naeeder, S. B.
SP  - 103
EP  - 108
VL  - 44
IS  - 3
N2  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of penetrating abdominal injuries (PAI) has increased in the West African sub-region. OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern and management outcome of penetrating abdominal injuries (PAI) in the two main teaching hospitals in Ghana. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective and retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra. METHODS: Relevant details of all adult patients admitted with penetrating abdominal injuries over a 11-year period were recorded at KATH and KBTH in Accra. The study in KATH was prospective pro forma based and that in the KBTH was a retrospective case review of all penetrating abdominal injuries. RESULTS: There were 411 patients, mostly men (M: F-8:1). The peak age of patients was 20-29 years, 164 patients (39.9%). Abdominal stab wound injuries accounted for 251 (61.1%). Three hundred and thirty - one patients (80.5%) had an emergency laparotomy. Twelve patients required 16 emergency thoracotomies. The small bowel (23.2%), stomach (12.9%), colon (10.2%), the liver (10.0%), were the most commonly injured organs. In 92 patients (29.0%) no significant intra-abdominal injury was detected at laparotomy CONCLUSION: Stab wounds are the main penetrating abdominal injuries seen mostly among young male adults in Ghana. Management was by a mandatory laparotomy after clinical assessment. The overall mortality was 4.4%. Selective non-operative management of abdominal stab wounds is possible.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0016-9560
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -