Analysis of Acute Abdomen in Trauma Patients: Mortality Factors and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Admissions

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the patients who developed acute abdomen due to trauma, to evaluate the factors affecting mortality and to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic process on patient admissions. Method: The study was conducted retrospectively by analyzing the patients who applied to the emergency department of a secondary healthcare institution between 01.01.2019-31.12.2023 (5 years) and developed an emergency surgical abdomen secondary to trauma and were hospitalized and treated. All age groups were included in the study. Demographic data, type of trauma, type of treatment, site of injury, laboratory data, length of hospitalization and mortality status were analyzed. Comparative analysis of the injured regions according to the type of trauma was performed. Data of patients who were discharged and those who died were compared. Data collection was performed through hospital electronic data. Results: The study evaluated 123 patients. The majority of patients were male (%78.9). The mean age was 36.43±14.81 years and the most common age range was 21-40 years (60.2%). At the time of presentation to the emergency department, the most common Glasgow Coma Score was 11-15 (83%). The most common reason for presentation was traffic accident (40.7%). Post-traumatic injuries to more than one organ or region in the abdomen were most common (28.5%). Surgical procedures were performed in 65.9% of the patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 7.14±5.40 days. Hemoglobin and platelet levels were found to be significantly lower at the time of admission in the patients who died (p<0.05). Mortality rate was 9.8%. Conclusion: In patients with abdominal trauma, the type of injury, Glasgow Coma Score at admission and laboratory data are effective in predicting mortality. It should be kept in mind that especially in patients with blunt trauma and in cases of multiple trauma, intra-abdominal injuries may progress more insidiously and may be missed.