RESULTS OF SURGERY IN GUNSHOT AND STAB WO UNDS OF THE TORSO

Between 1981 and 1990, 105 patients suffering from gunshot and stab wo unds were admitted to the Department of Surgery of Zurich University H ospital. There were 17 female and 88 male patients aged 16-74 years (a verage 31 years) whose charts were studied retrospectively. 44 patient s demonstrated gunshot injuries, while 60 suffered from stabwounds and 1 patient had both. The injuries were the result of a crime in 59, a suicide in 33 and an accident in 11 cases. In 2 patients the cause was not conclusively proven. Injuries to the lung (n = 54), the liver (n = 27) and to the stomach (n = 23) were seen most frequently. 45 patien ts underwent laparotomy, while 16 had a thoracotomy performed. Both th oracotomy and laparotomy were necessary in 10 cases. Complications wer e observed in 29.5% of the cases. They were significantly more frequen t in patients with gunshot injuries (p<0.0004). Overall mortality amou nted to 14.3% (n = 15). Patients with gunshot wounds had a significant ly higher mortality rate (p<0.0005). Debridement and selective closure of the wounds (n = 25) did not result in a higher rate of abscess for mation than open treatment (n = 17).