ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL STAB WOUNDS: A SIX-YEAR PERSPECTIVE FROM A TRAUMA CENTER IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINDANAO morphine8293@gmail.com

PE102

ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL STAB WOUNDS: A SIX-YEAR PERSPECTIVE FROM A TRAUMA CENTER IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINDANAO

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Philippines

Oral or Poster

Anterior abdominal stab wounds remain a significant challenge in trauma care, especially in resource-limited and conflict-affected regions.

This cross-sectional study reviewed 106 cases of patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds without concomitant injuries, managed at Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) from 2019 to 2024. The study aimed to assess patient demographics, injury profiles, diagnostic and treatment modalities, and perioperative outcomes.

Most patients were young adult (34 ± 13.8; 3-80 yo.) males (n – 97; 91.5%), predominantly from rural areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) region, with injuries commonly inflicted using kitchen knives (n - 102; 96.2%). The most common presentation was a single stab wound (n -78; 73.6%), and abdominal organ evisceration (n – 45; 42.5%). Delayed hospital presentation was also noted (n – 82; 77.4%) operationalized as arriving more than one hour post-injury. Despite this pre-hospital status, interventions (n – 75; 70.8%) were done such as fluid resuscitation (n – 55; 51.9%) and hemorrhage control (n – 52; 49.1%).

Operative management was necessary in 81.7%(n - 89) of patients. Hemoperitoneum (n – 63; 59.4 %), bowel (n – 30; 28.3%), and liver (n – 19; 17.9%), injuries were the most frequently reported intraoperative findings. The overall recovery rate was 82.9%(n - 87), while morbidity and mortality were recorded at 10.5%(n - 11) and 6.7%(n - 7), respectively. Complications such as postoperative bleeding and infections were strongly associated with poor outcomes. Increased transfusion requirements also correlated with higher morbidity and mortality.