Improving treatment outcomes in civilians with gunshot abdominal wounds received in local military conflicts

This study was undertaken to evaluate early and late postoperative periods in patients operated on for gunshot abdominal wounds. We found that the main drawbacks in providing medical care to civilians with severe gunshot injuries received in local conflicts included the lack of pre-hospital emergency care, proper infrastructure for the hospital stage, continuity in treatment, rehabilitation, and the ability to analyze treatment outcomes. Improper training of personnel to provide assistance to patients with severe combined trauma is also an important factor. The main criteria for choosing active surgical tactics for patients with gunshot abdominal wounds received in a regional conflict include the anatomical landmarks of the injury, poor or critical condition of the patient, shock, and absolute signs of a penetrating wound. More than two-thirds of patients with gunshot abdominal wounds (76.4%) develop complications in the late postoperative period, primarily postoperative ventral hernias and adhesions in the abdominal cavity.