Abdominal Trauma in patients at Hospital Universitario General Calixto García

Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal trauma is considered a significant health problem due to the fact that its kinematics causes both anatomical and functional injuries to the abdominal organs.

Objective: To characterize abdominal trauma in a group of injured patients from Hospital Universitario General Calixto García.

Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with abdominal trauma attended at the general surgery service from January 2017 to December 2019. The sample was 879 patients.

Results: There was a higher number of patients with abdominal trauma within the age group 19-29 years, with a prevalence of the male sex. Road traffic accidents predominated as the main cause of abdominal trauma, accounting for 52 %. Injuries to solid organs prevailed, most frequently to the liver, accounting for 33 %. The most frequently used treatment was surgical, which represents 83 % with reference to conservative management.

Conclusions: Due to their location and functionality, injuries associated with abdominal trauma become a factor that represents a great risk for the patient's life. Road traffic accidents continue to be among the first causes of abdominal trauma. Although the conservative approach has gained followers, there is a predominance of surgical treatment supported mainly by the patients' symptomatology and diagnostic means.