[Experience of the surgical service and surgeons at the 1st Surgical Clinical Center in Belgrade in the primary care of abdominal war injuries 1991-1992].

During the recent (1991/92) war on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, 12 of our surgeons participated in the treating of war abdominal injuries, on 8 localities with the various characteristics of combat. Treating all injuries, with adequate evidence and documentation, the general experience of all participants of our team was that abdominal injuries range from 0-12% depending on the the intensity of combat, with the mean percentage of 5.43% while combined injuries approximate 50% with the most common injuries of extremities (24%). The number of laparotomies was 65. The most common cause of abdominal injuries were bullets (75%) except in the localities with heavy combat where the explosive and bullet woundings were equally observed. The blast injuries were recorded in 3%. The most common injured organs were large (29.5%), small intestine (23.46%) liver, stomach and spleen subsequently. The severity of injury and mortality depends mostly of the number of injured organs, and multiorgan lesions were systematically observed (1.89 of injured organs SD 0.96). The total hospital mortality was 6.15% (4 cases: 2 "in tabula" and 2 later) due to multiorgan injuries with severe shock and bleeding. To achieve better results, early transportation to a place where operation could be made is necessary, with the effective first aid and good organisation of the initial management and triage. The diagnosis must be fast and effective, decision quick and the operation must deal with all the injuries primary, by the most safe surgical procedure, with the exposition of external wound.