Laparotomy for Abdominal Injury: Pattern, Indication & Outcome of patients at Jimma University Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Abdominal injury is among the major causes of trauma admissions. Affect productive age group. Objective; the aim was to determine etiology, commonly injured organs, indication and outcome of patients with abdominal injuries requiring laparotomy. Methods: A retrospective study of all adult patients who underwent laparotomy for abdominal injury at Jimma Medical Center was conducted from June 2019 to May 2021.. Results: Laparotomy for abdominal injury was performed for 117 patients. Of these, 87 (75 %) case records were retrieved. Penetrating trauma was the commonest injury, stab (n=35, 42.5%) and Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) (n=15, 17.2 %) being the leading causes in blunt trauma. Extra-abdominal injuries were seen in 57.5 % (n=50) of the cases. Hollow organs were commonly injured than solid organs. Small intestine (37, 49.3%) and Spleen (21, 28%) were the leading injured organs in penetrating and blunt respectively. The main procedure performed was repair of solid and hollow organs laceration/perforation (34, 39.1 %). The negative laparotomy rate was 14.7% (n=13). Complications were seen in 23(26.4%) patients, the commonest being SSI (n=11, 47.8 %). The mortality rate was 10.5 %( n=9). Conclusion: Stab and RTA were the commonest indications of laparotomy. The mortality was significantly associated with blunt abdominal injury and hypotension (SBP<90mmHg).