[Abdominal war injuries]

Abstract

In the period of July 1, 1991-December 31, 1992, 4292 wounded were treated in the Military Medical Academy (MMA) in Belgrade. Out of 410 (9.6%) wounded with abdominal war injuries, 156 (38%) received the primary treatment in MMA and the remainder in other hospitals. One fifth of the wounded with abdominal injuries suffered combined injuries of more organs and 82.7% of the cases had multiple injuries of one organ or combined injury of two or more abdominal organs. Wounding caused by explosive devices prevailed (61.5%), and the most frequently injured organs were small intestine in 40% and colon in 30.7% of the cases. Reoperation due to complications was performed in 7% of the wounded primarily managed in MMA and 33.8% of there primarily managed in other hospitals. Total mortality due to the abdominal war injuries was 10.9%, while mortality in patients primarily managed in MMA amounted to 4.5% compared to 14.9% of those operated on in other hospitals.