BACKGROUND: In Brazil, in the year of 2004, mortality by external causes represented 12,4% of the total deaths, corresponding to, 124.470 deaths. Abdominal trauma is present in 13%-15% of all fatal accidents and, not surprisingly, contributes in a significant way to the late deaths by sepsis. AIM: To describe the epidemiological profile of individuals who suffered abdominal trauma and were submitted to laparotomy treatment, at the HRSJ-HMG, within the period of 2003 to 2006. METHODS: The present investigation is constituted of a study with transversal delineation, descriptive and retrospective in 185 individuals, having as a basis the information collecting referring to all the abdominal traumas, submitted to laparotomy treatment, occurred between the periods of 2003 to 2006, based on data from the HRSJ-HMG. RESULTS: The most frequent gender was the male one, which prevailed in 87% (161), being most of the individuals in the age group of 20 to 29 years old 44,3% (82) of the total; firearm injury was the main cause of abdominal trauma, representing 51,9%(96); the most frequent death cause was hypovolemic shock 47% (6); from the associated extra-abdominal lesions, the one that prevailed was the thoracic trauma with 22,2% (41). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the most frequent gender was the male one, the most frequent age group was from 20 to 29 years old, being the main cause firearm injury. The most affected structures were the small intestine, liver and spleen. Most of the patients remained hospitalized within a period of one to five days and are discharged without intercurrences.
Trauma; Abdomen; Laparotomy
