Abdominal missile injuries at Gonder Hospital, northwestern Ethiopia

A review of 121 patients, who had explorative laparotomies for abdominal missile injuries at Gonder College of Medical Sciences (GCMS) Hospital, showed a mortality rate of 16.5%, 83 non-fatal postoperative complications in 63 patients and prolonged hospital stay. Delay in evacuation, lack of good organization for effective resuscitation combined with a high rate of colonic injury (47.9%) were found to be the major contributing factors for the relatively high mortality, morbidity and prolonged hospital stay.