TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Mechanisms of self-inflicted injuries at an urban city hospital
JO  - American surgeon
A1  - Veselsky, Steven L.
A1  - Poirier, Marie-Veronique
A1  - Tracy, Brett M.
A1  - Castater, Christine A.
A1  - Mehta, Christina
A1  - Minihan, Adair K.
A1  - Williams, Keneeshia N.
A1  - Gelbard, Rondi B.
A1  - Faloye, Abimbola O.
A1  - Smith, Randi N.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Suicide is a major public health issue with root causes including psychological, economical, and societal factors. <br><br>METHODS: Retrospective review identified self-inflicted traumatic injuries (SITIs) at Grady Health System between 2009 and 2017. Patients were categorized by penetrating or blunt mechanism of injury (MOI). Outcomes included hospital length of stay (HLOS) and ventilator duration, mortality, and location of death. <br><br>RESULTS: 678 patients in total were identified. Penetrating MOI was most prevalent (n = 474). Patients with a blunt MOI were significantly younger (32 Y vs. 37 Y; P <.0001). Psychiatric illness was equally common between MOI at more than 50%. Penetrating traumas required longer ventilator times (1 D vs. 0 D; P <.0001) but shorter overall HLOS (4 D vs. 6 D; P =.0013). Mortality was twice as high in the penetrating group (29.8% vs. 11.8%; P <.0001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Self-inflicted traumatic injuries occurred most often among younger adults and those with history of psychiatric illness. Penetrating traumas result in worse outcomes. Self-inflicted traumatic injuries carry high morbidity and mortality. Improved prevention strategies targeting high-risk groups are needed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-1348
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003134821998681
ID  - ref1
ER  -