Analysis of epidemiology, lesions, treatment and outcome of 354 consecutive cases of blunt and penetrating trauma to the chest in an African setting.

Background: The proportion of death and disability related to trauma is increasing in Third-World countries. Thoracic trauma is significantly involved, but few data are available on this issue in African countries with specific local conditions.

Methods: The aim of the study is to analyse the diagnosis and management procedures in thoracic trauma in a typical African country.

Surgical repair of a giant pseudoaneurysm of the right common carotid artery following a gunshot.

Common carotid pseudoaneurysms are very rare. The authors report a case of a 18-year-old patient with 11 cm large posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the right common carotid artery caused by a gunshot in the neck. The patient also had a right hemiplegia, secondary to the left sylvian artery stroke and aphasia.

Retained sponge after abdominal surgery: experience from a third world country.

Background: Retained abdominal sponge after surgery is a quite rare condition which can have heavy medico-legal consequences; its frequency is generally underestimated. Few reports of these conditions are available in African environment with specific technical and medico-legal background. We present our local experience of retained sponges after abdominal surgery and review current literature.