Outcomes After Laparotomy for Penetrating Abdominal Trauma

Outcomes After Laparotomy for Penetrating Abdominal Trauma: A Cohort Study From a Tertiary Trauma Hospital in South Africa

The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes of adult patients hospitalised due to penetrating abdominal trauma at a tertiary trauma hospital in South Africa. Our primary objective is to study the association between waiting time to surgery and outcome (mortality, complications, and length of hospital stay) in normotensive patients treated with laparotomy for penetrating abdominal trauma.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients that are admitted due to penetrating abdominal injuries, irrespective of injury mechanism, time from injury and prior treatment.
• Patients that are treated with laparotomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients that are admitted due to blunt trauma or combinations of blunt and penetrating trauma.
• Patients who are dead on arrival.
• Patients that are only re-admitted during the study period, i.e. patients that received primary treatment by TBH before study initiation.