Firearm injuries: a three years experience

ABSTRACT

During the last 3 years i.e. from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1996, 1063 cases of penetrating gun-shot injuries were brought to the Emergency Department of Civil Hospital, Karachi. Of these 15 died during resuscitation, 530 patients were given treatment in the Emergency Department and discharged while 518 patients were admitted. Amongst these 78 cases were treated in Surgical Unit II and include 66.6% with abdominal injury, 10.2% with thoracic, 8.9% with thoraco-abdominal, 6.4% with head and face, and 7.6%, with limb injuries. Laparotomy was performed in 75.6%, thoracic intubation in 19.2%, wound exploration in 14.1% and tracheostomy in 1.2% cases. Average hospital stay was 8 days. Complications occurred in 7.8% cases and the mortality was 3.8%