Frequency, causes and pattern of abdominal trauma: A 4-year descriptive analysis

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Abdominal trauma incidence is underreported in the Arab Middle East.
• A new trauma center in Qatar provides a unique setting to study this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence, causes, and outcomes of abdominal trauma.
• To identify predictors of mortality in trauma patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 6888 trauma patients admitted between 2008-2011.
• Review of patient demographics, injury mechanisms, organ injuries, and outcomes.
• Analysis of Injury Severity Score (ISS), complications, and mortality.

Main Results:

• 15% of trauma patients (1036) had abdominal trauma, predominantly males (93%) aged 30.6 years.
• Road traffic accidents (61%) were the main cause, with liver (36%), spleen (32%), and kidney (18%) most frequently injured.
• Overall mortality was 8.3%, with head injury, ISS, blood transfusion, and lactate predicting mortality.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal trauma is a frequent diagnosis in multiple trauma patients.
• Extra-abdominal injuries and sepsis significantly impact patient outcomes.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for improving trauma care in the region.