Medical aspects of treatment of gunshot wounds in civilians injured in a local military conflict

Objective: to analyze the medical aspects of treatment of gunshot wounds in civilians injured in a local military conflict. Materials and methods. We evaluated surgical care provided to 120 victims aged 17 to 30 years admitted to Grozny City Hospital No. 9 between 2000 and 2004. Of the 120 wounded, 57 patients (47.5%) had isolated injuries, whereas 63 patients (52.5%) had combined injuries. Upon admission to hospital, majority of patients had grave and critical condition due to multiple abdominal injuries, significant blood loss, and shock. Patients with isolated injuries had satisfactory overall performance, while patients with combined injuries were in grave or critical condition. Results. Twelve out of 86 patients (10%) with chest wounds underwent thoracotomy (2 of them (1.6%) had isolated injuries and 10 patients (8.3%) had combined injuries. Thirty-eight individuals with chest wounds (31.6%) developed complications in the early postoperative period; death rate reached 15% in this group...