Urological injuries in the civil war of Libya

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In this article, we aimed to evaluate results of patients who acquired various injuries during Libya civil war who then were transferred to our facility with genitourinary trauma for further assessment and treatment. METHODS: A total of 121 wounded patients, including 21 (17.3%) with 1 or more combined urogenital injuries, were treated at Yeni Yüzyıl University Private Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital from October 2014 to September 2016. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients, 13 (61.9%) were injured by explosive weapons, while the rest 8 (38.1%) had bullet wounds. The 21 urogenital injuries were to the kidney in 7 cases (33.4%), ureter in 5 (23.8%), bladder in 5 (23.8%), scrotum in 2 (9.5%), and penis in 2 (9.5%). There was associated damage to organs other than the urogenital system in 21 patients (100%). Two patients had nephrectomies performed on-site medical facility. The rest of patients had no urogenital organ resections. Urogenital trauma had higher rates of liver damage, generalized infection, blood transfusions, and longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Knowing that war related surgery patients should be approached as a distinct and non-standard category, every case must be evaluated individually. Patients should be evaluated in a multidisciplinary approach and physicians should be aware of infections affecting morbidity and mortality.