TITLE:
Treatment of Penetrating Abdominal Wounds at the National Hospital Ignace Deen, CHU Conakry
AUTHORS:
Barry Mamadou Sakoba, Diallo Alpha Amadou, Soumaoro Labilé Togba, Camara Fodé Lansana, Touré Aboubacar
KEYWORDS:
Penetrating Wounds, Abdomen, General Surgery
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.17 No.8,
August
25,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Due to their frequency and severity, penetrating abdominal wounds are a public health issue. The causes and mechanisms of these wounds vary. The aim was to contribute to the study of the management of these wounds in the department. Patients and Methods: A one-year prospective, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, in the General Surgery Department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital, Conakry University Hospital. Results: Out of a total of 120 traumatic abdominal surgical emergencies, we collected 24 cases of penetrating wounds of the abdomen (20%). Males were predominant. The average age of the patients was 20.40 years. Schoolchildren and students were the most affected. Social conflicts were the main etiological factor (58%). The clinical picture was dominated by abdominal pain (100%) and external bleeding through a parietal wound (29.2%). All patients were treated surgically, with the small intestine being the most affected (62.5%). Excision and suturing of the visceral wound was the main surgical procedure performed. The postoperative outcome was favorable in 75% of cases. Significant prognostic factors were: use of a firearm, delay in consultation (>24 hours), and hemodynamic instability of patients on admission. Conclusion: Penetrating wounds of the abdomen are frequent and serious surgical emergencies, requiring both accurate diagnosis of the injury and prompt and effective treatment.