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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
A prospective study of blunt abdominal trauma at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Volume 36, No. 2, Year 2010
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Description
Background: Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) usually results from motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and recreational accidents or falls. This communication is a 3-year report of an ongoing study aimed at providing the current BAT prevalence in our center. It is hoped that this would assist in a better design of prevention and emergency trauma response systems to cope with this epidemic. Methods: All of the patients admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria, from February 2005 to January 2008 were prospectively studied based on a questionnaire. Hemodynamic stability and sonography formed the basis for selecting patients for non-operative management (NOM); others were offered laparotomy. Results: In total, 4,391 emergencies were seen during the study period, of which 1,654 (38%) were due to trauma. Seventy-nine patients with abdominal trauma accounted for 4.8% of trauma cases. Forty-two (53%) patients suffered BAT and their ages ranged from 14 and 56 years (mean 28.4 years), with a male:female ratio of 2.5:1. Road traffic accidents accounted for 13 (87%) and 26 (96%) patients in the NOM and laparotomy groups, respectively. The most commonly injured organ was the spleen in both groups: 8 (50%) and 15 (56%) in the NOM and laparotomy groups, respectively. Fifteen (36%) patients were managed successfully in the NOM group. Conclusion: Trauma was mainly due to road traffic injuries. Hemodynamic stability and ultrasonography effectively selected patients for NOM. The establishment of trauma systems, provision of ancillary diagnostic and monitoring facilities, well-designed roads and traffic infrastructure, and health education on road safety would reduce injury, morbidity, and mortality. © Urban & Vogel München 2010.
Authors & Co-Authors
Asuquo, M. E.
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Etiuma, Anietimfon Umoh
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Bassey, Okon O.
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Ugare, Gabriel
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Ngim, Ogbu E.
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Agbor, Cyril A.
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Ikpeme, Anthonia Asanye
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Ndifon, Wilfred O.
Niger
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 14
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s00068-009-9104-2
ISSN:
18639933
e-ISSN:
16153146
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Nigeria
Participants Gender
Male
Female