Penetrating XXXX in adults seen at two teaching hospitals in ghana.

@entity1 @entity1661 @entity3511
BACKGROUND: The incidence of penetrating @entity3511 (PAI) has increased in the West African sub-region. OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern and management outcome of penetrating @entity3511 (PAI) in the two main teaching hospitals in Ghana. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective and retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra. METHODS: Relevant details of all adult @entity1 admitted with penetrating @entity3511 over a 11-year period were recorded at KATH and KBTH in Accra. The study in KATH was prospective pro forma based and that in the KBTH was a retrospective case review of all penetrating @entity3511 . RESULTS: There were 411 @entity1 , mostly @entity1 (M: F-8:1). The peak age of @entity1 was 20-29 years, 164 @entity1 (39.9%). Abdominal stab wound injuries accounted for 251 (61.1%). Three hundred and thirty - one @entity1 (80.5%) had an emergency laparotomy. Twelve @entity1 required 16 emergency thoracotomies. The small bowel (23.2%), stomach (12.9%), colon (10.2%), the liver (10.0%), were the most commonly injured organs. In 92 @entity1 (29.0%) no significant @entity3511 was detected at laparotomy CONCLUSION: Stab wounds are the main penetrating @entity3511 seen mostly among young male adults in Ghana. Management was by a mandatory laparotomy after clinical assessment. The overall mortality was 4.4%. Selective non-operative management of @entity1661 wounds is possible.
