Abstract:

Aim: Gunshot injuries are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We investigated the clinical characteristics of the abdominal gunshot wound patients operated at the only pediatric surgery clinic in Somalia. Materials and Methods: In this study, the records of 42 pediatric patients who were admitted to the only pediatric surgery clinic in Somalia with abdominal gunshot wounds and operated between May 2019 and July 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, cause of injury (firearm or bombing), treatment, surgical findings, injured organs, length of hospital stay, and complications. Results: A total of 42 children aged 3 - 16 years (median 10 years), 28 (67%) male and 14 (33%) women, wounded by bombs (30, 71%) or bullets (12, 29%) were included in the study. Twenty one (50%) had single and the other 21 (50%) had multiple intra abdominal organ injury. Most commonly injured organs were small intestines (n=24), large intestines (n=4), liver (n=10) and kidneys (n=7). Median duration of hospitalization was seven days. Thirty six (86%) patients were followed up in the clinic and 6 (14%) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Two of the patients in the ICU did not survive. Conclusion: The results of our study reveal that the data we obtained in a short period of time in a single pediatric surgery clinic in Somalia show that children are exposed to severe abdominal gunshot wounds and face significant morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: