Abdominal gunshot injury: a prospective study of 63 consecutive patients

From April 1989 through April, 1991, 63 consecutive patients with internal abdominal injuries resulting from firearm trauma were treated by laparotomy in a general surgical unit. Their mean age was 26.35% years. Laparotomy was indicated mostly by the signs of peritoneal irritation. In majority [82.6%] of the cases two or more organs were injured. There was 7.9% mortality rate due to perioperative shock and septicaemia. A significant morbidity resulted from wound sepsis, intra-abdominal abscess, faecal fistula and empyema thoracis. It is concluded that hollow abdominal viscera are the most commonly affected organs following firearm trauma. The morbidity and mortality have a direct relation with the number of injured organs