Analysis of the factors increasing the mortality in emergency department following firearm injuries

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to determine the factors that increase mortality in patients presenting to the emergency department after a gunshot injury.
METHODS: This is a retrospective study. Between January 2010 and 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.
RESULTS: 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%). 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. 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.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Mortality rate was high in patients with low GCS and Hb levels. The length of stay in emergency department was short in patients with high mortality.