title: Penetrating abdominal trauma.
abstract: Penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT) is seen daily in our trauma ward. We present a retrospective study of the patients managed in our hospital (Polokwane Hospital, Limpopo) from January 1999 to March 2000. Epidemiology, mechanism of injury, patterns of injury, management, morbidity and overall mortality were recorded for analysis. Morbidity and mortality were commonly associated with peritonitis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Polokwane Mankweng Complex, Limpopo.
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Monzon-Torres
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortega-Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery