Abdominal trauma due to road traffic accidents in Qatar.

Abstract

To measure the incidence and severity of abdominal trauma due to road traffic accidents (RTA) in Qatar. Retrospective analysis of all patients admitted with documented abdominal trauma to the only acute General Hospital in the state of Qatar in the period 1991-1995. In the 5-year period, 3744 patients were admitted following an RTA. Of these, 667 (17.8%) were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) and 84 patients had abdominal injuries, constituting 0.45% of total number and 12.6% of patients admitted to SICU. Twenty-one (25%) of patients with abdominal trauma died. However, only nine patients died from the abdominal injury. Eight patients died due to hepatic injury and one patient due to splenic injury.