Analysis of the Factors Increasing the Mortality in Emergency Department Following Firearm Injuries

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to determine the factors that increase mortality in patients presenting to the emergency department after a gunshot injury. This is a retrospective study. Between January 2010 and January 2014, 246 cases were reported to the tertiary university emergency department after firearm injury; age, sex, injury site and concomitant organ injuries, consciousness and hemoglobin levels, patient distribution according to months and years, length of stay in emergency department and factors increasing mortality were analyzed. There were a total of 246 subjects included in the study: 211 (85.8%) males and 35 (14.2%) females. The average age was 29±13.5. The distribution of the firearm woundings indicated that they occurred most frequently in August 56 (22.7%). Injury localization was detected as head 53 (21.5%), thorax 35 (14.2%), abdomen 27 (10.9%) and extremity 106(43%). The accompanying injuries were as follows: 23 cases of hemopenumothorax (9.3%), 20 cases of intestine perforation in the abdomen (8.1%). The states of the patients' consciousness were evaluated using the Glasgow coma scale (GCS). The results were as follows: 31 subjects scored 3-8, 22 patients scored 9-13 and 193 patients scored 14-15. The length of stay in the emergency department was as follows; head and neck 119, thorax 150, abdomen 134, multiple trauma 161 and ex 55. As a result low GCS and Hb levels and long-term Emergency Department duration increase mortality. © 2020, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.