Abdominal Trauma: Five Years Experience in National Centre Hospital, Mauritania

Abstract

Trauma care including abdominal trauma is a big challenge. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality and continues to be a public health problem worldwide. The main aims of our study were to assess the patterns and outcomes of our patients, and to describe our experience in management of abdominal trauma. This descriptive retrospective study was conducted in general surgery department at National Centre Hospital of Nouakchott in Mauritania. We recruited patients presented at our department with abdominal trauma (2012-2016). Out of 100 cases, 92% were men. Mean age: 22.78 years (5 - 70 years). Eighty percent of patients suffered of penetrating abdominal trauma. Stab injuries were the most frequent mechanism (60%). The commonest organ injury was small intestine (16%). Mortality has been strongly related to road traffic accidents. Cares of severe abdominal traumas are not common in our hospital, due to lack of required overall data. Emergency health system is needed to better care of trauma patients in Mauritania.