Potential Spectrum of Accompanied Penetrating Abdominal Intraperitoneal Injuries with Bowel Evisceration: Surprises Awaiting the Trauma Surgeon in Resource Limited Settings

Abstract

Penetrating abdominal injuries involves violation of the peritoneal cavity and injuries to solid organs and other intraperitoneal viscera such as major blood vessels and hollow organs. Typically such injuries arise from gunshot wounds or stab wounds. With increase in crime rates and motor traffic accidents in urban areas, the trauma surgeon in civilian urban centers faces spectrum of injuries similar to his colleague in war torn areas. Potential spectrum of penetrating abdominal injuries is wide and accurate diagnosis in resource limited centers is challenging. Majority of injuries are concealed and diagnosed intraoperatively and dealt with relatively junior trauma surgeons in emergency settings in remote limited settings. Computed tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facilities are scarce in resource limited settings. Haemodynamic states of penetrating abdominal injuries patients presenting in emergency departments necessitate urgent surgical exploration and management with minimal room for full radiological work-up. Evisceration of bowels with unstable haemodynamic states mandate laparotomy due to wide spectrum of accompanied intraperitoneal injuries. Four cases of penetrating abdominal injuries are presented with modes of assault ranging from gunshot injuries to stab wounds with broken bottles to highlight the intra-abdominal spectrum of injuries, challenges in diagnosis and emergency managements done in a resource limited setting.