[Penetrating abdominal wounds]

37 cases of penetrating abdominal wounds, 10 stab wounds and 27 gunshot wounds, have been examined. They are part of a total of 1856 emergency surgery operations carried out consecutively over a period of 30 months; they therefore represent 2%. The series consisted of 31 men and 6 women; average age was 31. The organs most frequently damaged were the liver, the small intestine and mesentery, the large intestine and mesocolon. Reoperation proved necessary in 7 gunshot wounds, the incidence being much higher than in all other emergency operations carried out. Mortality rate was very high (21.62%): one case of the stab wounds and seven of the gunshot wounds. In spite of the considerable overall seriousness 3 cases, 1 stab and 2 gunshot wounds, did not present visceral lesions. This leads us to agree with numerous authors who maintain that a penetrating abdominal wound is not an absolute indication for surgery but requires, like blunt abdominal injuries, individual surgical evaluation, and in some cases conservative management.