Adequate management of stab and gunshot wounds

Abstract

It is difficult to verify the treatment of stab and gunshot wounds with prospective randomized studies. That is why the results of observational studies are so important. From 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1998, we saw 74 patients because of stab (64) and gunshot (ten) wounds. Most of the patients, whose injuries were caused mainly for criminal reasons (criminal 54, autoaggressive 14, accidental 4, unknown 2), came to hospital on weekends. We saw 38 abdominal, 23 thoracic, and 13 mixed injuries. On average, 3.8 h passed between the time of injury and getting first aid. Concerning abdominal injuries, we counted 21 negative intraoperative results. Two of 12 thoracic injuries showed no further damage. The patients stayed in hospital for 13.1 days on average. The morbidity was 28.38%, and mortality was 5.41%. Abdominal gunshot wounds need immediate surgical treatment. Concerning stab wounds, obligatory as well as selective surgical methods are both acceptable. Because of valid diagnostic options, thoracic stab wounds allow several ways of treatment.