@article{ref1,
title="Current burden of gunshot wound injuries at two Los Angeles County Level I Trauma  centers",
journal="Journal of the American Academy of Surgeons",
year="2019",
author="Foran, Christopher P. and Clark, Damon H. and Henry, Reynold and Lalchandani, Priti and Kim, Dennis Y. and Putnam, Brant A. and Schellenberg, Morgan and Lane, Christianne J. and Inaba, Kenji and Demetriades, Demetrios G.",
volume="229",
number="2",
pages="141–149-141–149",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Gunshot wound (GSW) injuries present a unique surgical challenge. This study explored the financial and clinical burdens of GSW victims across two Los Angeles County Level I trauma centers over the last 12 years and compared them to other forms of interpersonal injury (OIPI). STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of patients presenting as the victim GSW and OIPI (defined as combined stab wound or blunt assault) between 1/1/2006 until 3/30/2018 at LAC+USC Medical Center (LAC+USC) and Harbor UCLA Medical Center (HUCLA). Demographic and clinical variables were assessed for GSW victims and compared to victims of OIPI. <br><br>RESULTS: 17,871 patients met inclusion criteria. There was a significant difference in mortality for victims of GSW versus OIPI (11% versus 2%, p<0.001). The odds ratio for GSW patients requiring operation was twice as high as OIPI (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.8-2.2). The odds ratio for GSW patients requiring ICU admission was 20% higher than OIPI (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.36). GSW victims experienced a longer median length of stay versus OIPI victims (3 days versus 2 days, p < 0.001). The median hospital charge per admission for GSW was twice that of OIPI (GSW $12,612 versus OIPI $6,195; p < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: When compared to OIPI, GSW victims arrived more severely injured, required more operations, more ICU admissions, and longer hospital stays. GSW victims incurred significantly higher hospital charges and had a significantly higher mortality rate. GSW injury is a unique public health concern requiring comprehensive, nation-wide, contemporary study.<br><br>Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1072-7515",
doi="10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.02.048",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.02.048"
}