DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjs.2025.v11i08.003

Pages: 856-862

Abdominal wounds caused by firearms are a real public health problem, the incidence of which is rising sharply in the world population. Their heterogeneity is linked to the variety of types of weapon used. In this study, we have endeavoured to show how abdomen wounds caused by firearms were managed during the period of our study, as our country has been through difficult times and has undergone profound changes punctuated by socio-political unrest for the establishment of its democracy. The overall objective was to contribute to improving the quality of management of abdominal gunshot wounds. We report the results of a retrospective descriptive study of 135 cases of abdominal gunshot wounds observed and managed in the visceral surgery department of the Donka CHU national hospital over a 16-year period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2015, with a view to highlighting anatomical, clinical and therapeutic aspects. In our series, 88.88% of patients underwent surgery for gunshot wounds, compared with 11.12% who did not. Of those who did not undergo surgery, 2.2% received shrapnel from grenades and 8.8% received shotgun pellets. The viscera most frequently affected were respectively the small intestine 41.8%, colon 40%, liver 20.74%, spleen 19.26% and stomach 13.33%. In our series, overall mortality was high and morbidity not negligible.