TITLE:
Abscess rate of patients with penetrating abdominal injury in Zaria
AUTHORS:
Jerry Godfrey Makama, Ekundayo Stephen Garba
KEYWORDS:
Abscess; Penetrating; Abdominal Injury; Rate
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.4,
April
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background:
Penetrating abdominal injury occurs when a foreign object pierces the skin. The
morbidity and mortality associated with penetrating abdominal trauma is related
to the intra-abdominal complications. This study is, therefore, intended to determine
the abscess rate resulting from penetrating abdominal trauma in Ahmadu Bello University
Teaching Hospital Zaria. Method: A 6-year (January 2006-December 2011) retrospective
study of penetrating abdominal trauma emphasizing on the rate of development
of intra-abdominal abscess. Information was obtained from patients’ case notes,
operating room log books and surgical audit data. Information extracted included
cases of penetrating abdominal trauma, intra-operative findings and cases of intra-abdominal
abscesses. Results: A total of 39 cases of penetrating abdominal trauma were treated
within this period of six years. 3 (7.7%) were
treated in 2006, 6 (15.4%) in 2007, 3 (7.7%) in 2008 and 11 (28.2%) in 2009,
8 (20.5%) in 2010, 9 (23.1%) in 2011. 26 (66.7%) were adult while 13 (33.3%) were
paediatric cases. The male were 37 (94.9%) and the female were 2 (5.1%), with
a sex ratio of 18.5:1 (male to female). The age range was 5 -60 years (39.92 mean).
The commonest cause of injury was road traffic accident. At exploration, 13 (33.3%)
had organ injury only, 17 (43.6%) suffer from both organ injury and intra-peritoneal
emorrhage, 9 (23.1%) had retroperitoneal haemorrhage only. The intra-abdominal abscess
rate of penetrating abdominal injury in Zaria was found to be 2.6%. Conclusion:
Contamination from either foreign object or organ injury is found to increase the
risk of post-operative intra-abdominal abscess. In this center, the
abscess rate of penetrating abdominal trauma is comparatively low.