Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part B (2025)

Introduction: Penetrating abdominal wounds (PAW) represent a major surgical emergency, particularly in urban African settings. This study aims to describe their epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary profile at Idrissa Pouye General Hospital (HOGIP) in Dakar.

Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted over a 12-month period (January to December 2023). All patients admitted for PAW were included. Epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and outcome data were analyzed.

Results: Thirty-three patients were included. The mean age was 28.19 years, with a male predominance (93.94%). Assaults (33.33%) and riots (27.27%) were the main circumstances. White weapons (60.61%) and firearms (30.30%) were the most frequent causal agents. The mean time to consultation was 3.95 hours. The small intestine (30.30%) and colon (24.24%) were the most injured organs. All patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, with a negative laparotomy rate of 12.12%. Postoperative morbidity was 6.06% and mortality was 9.09%. The mean hospital stay was 7 days.

Conclusion: PAW primarily affect young men and are often related to urban violence. Early and appropriate management, combined with rigorous monitoring, can improve the prognosis.