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 that is a main public health problem in some countries. We perform an epidemiological study of Penetrating Abdominal Trauma (PAT). We describe epidemiological of patients in PAT. In a cross-sectional study we evaluated epidemiological 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 (version 11.5 for windows). Statistical analysis using the chi-square and P<0.05 was accepted as being statistically significant. 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.