EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF PATIENTS WITH PENETRATING ABDOMINAL TRAUMA IN TEHRAN-IRAN

Trauma continues to be the most frequent cause of death in the first four decades of life and is a major public health problem in some countries. We performed an epidemiological study of penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT) to describe epidemiological characteristics of patients with PAT. In a cross-sectional study we evaluated patients with PAT admitted to emergency department in six general hospitals in Tehran. The data was collected through a questionnaire that was completed by trained physician trauma center. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software. During the study period, 0.86% (69/8000) of our patients sustained PAT. Sixty-six (95.7%) patients were male and 3 (4.3%) cases were female. The peak age incidence was 15-29 years, with 43 (62.3%) patients. Stab wound was the leading cause of PAT in male and female, with 62 (89.9%) cases. Firearm was responsible for 7 (10.1%) cases. Young males are the most common victims. This is the most productive age group and this has grave implication for the national economy.