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 andis a major public health problem in some countries. we performed an epidemiological study ofpenetrating abdominal trauma (pat) to describe epidemiological characteristics of patients with pat.in a cross-sectional study we evaluated patients with pat admitted to emergency department in sixgeneral hospitals in tehran. the data was collected through a questionnaire that was completed bytrained physician trauma center. statistical analysis was performed using the spss software. during thestudy period, 0.86% (69/8000) of our patients sustained pat. sixty-six (95.7%) patients were male and3 (4.3%) cases were female. the peak age incidence was 15-29 years, with 43 (62.3%) patients. stabwound was the leading cause of pat in male and female, with 62 (89.9%) cases. firearm wasresponsible for 7 (10.1%) cases. young males are the most common victims. this is the mostproductive age group and this has grave implication for the national economy.