Features of spleen damage in various abdominal gunshot wounds

Introduction. Currently, there is a classification of gunshot wounds, according to which such wounds are divided into bullet, shrapnel, and mine-explosive wounds. The severity of such injuries is determined by several factors, the main of which is the high lethality due to kinetic energy, and the damage to the spleen can reach up to 19 % in such cases. It is evident that the nature of combat weapons has evolved over time, leading to changes in the nature of internal organ damage, which requires further research into this issue.

The purpose of this study the aim of this study was to examine the immediate postoperative period in a comparative aspect in various gunshot wounds of the spleen. Materials and methods. The study included 27 patients with gunshot wounds to the abdomen, accompanied by spleen injuries, who were divided into two groups: group A – gunshot wounds to the spleen, 15 (55,5 %) cases, and group B – shrapnel wounds, 12 (44,4 %) cases.

Research results and discussion. The presented study shows that gunshot wounds to the abdomen with damage to the spleen are accompanied by a fairly high percentage of complications – 51,8 % of cases, as well as a significant percentage of fatal outcomes – 29,6 %. At the same time, bullet wounds are accompanied by a higher percentage of complications compared to shrapnel wounds, respectively, 37,0 % and 29,6 %, and the number of fatal outcomes is 22,2 % and 7,4 %. The main complications recorded in the group of patients with abdominal gunshot wounds and spleen damage were purulent-septic, and the cause of death was shock.

Conclusion. Gunshot wounds to the abdomen, accompanied by damage to the spleen, are associated with worse outcomes in the immediate postoperative period compared to shrapnel wounds.

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