TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Current burden of gunshot wound injuries at two Los Angeles County Level I Trauma  centers
JO  - Journal of the American Academy of Surgeons
A1  - Foran, Christopher P.
A1  - Clark, Damon H.
A1  - Henry, Reynold
A1  - Lalchandani, Priti
A1  - Kim, Dennis Y.
A1  - Putnam, Brant A.
A1  - Schellenberg, Morgan
A1  - Lane, Christianne J.
A1  - Inaba, Kenji
A1  - Demetriades, Demetrios G.
SP  - 141–149
EP  - 141–149
VL  - 229
IS  - 2
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1072-7515
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.02.048
ID  - ref1
ER  -