Abdominal trauma at the University Hospital of Maringá, 2006 - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v30i2.1998

Abstract

Of all the deaths due to external cause trauma, half could be avoided, and a third are potentially preventable. The objective of this study was to determine the common characteristics related to patients with abdominal trauma. A study was conducted of 57 cases of abdominal trauma at the University Hospital of Maringá, during the period from January to December 2006. The majority of victims are male; the most affected age group is in its third decade of life; open abdominal trauma proved to be slightly more prevalent, and wounds from cold steel weapons were the most common; most abdominal injuries were due to traffic accidents; the conduct of surgical intervention overcomes conservative treatment in open abdominal trauma; in contusion trauma, spleen and kidneys were the most affected organs, while in open wounds the most affected viscera was the small intestine; evolution to death predominated in open abdominal trauma. Because of the prevalence, severity and importance of the issue, it is suggested that further studies be conducted in order to establish conducts more appropriate to our reality.