National Trends in the Cost Burden of Pediatric Gunshot Wounds Across the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize hospitalization costs attributable to gun-related injuries in children across the US. STUDY DESIGN: The 2005-2017 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify all pediatric admissions for gunshot wounds (GSW). Patients were stratified by International Classification of Diseases procedural codes for trauma-related operations. Annual trends in GSW hospitalizations and costs were analyzed with survey-weighted estimates. Multivariable regressions were used to identify factors associated with high-cost hospitalizations. RESULTS: During the study period, an estimated 36 283 pediatric patients were admitted for a GSW, with 43.1% undergoing an operative intervention during hospitalization. Admissions for pediatric firearm injuries decreased from 3246 in 2005 to 3185 in 2017 (NPtrend < .001). The median inflation-adjusted cost was $12 408 (IQR $6253-$24 585). Median costs rose significantly from $10 749 in 2005 to $16 157 in 2017 (P < .001). Compared with those who did not undergo surgical interventions, operative patients incurred increased median costs ($18 576 vs $8942, P < .001). Assault and self-harm injuries as well as several operations were independently associated with classification in the highest cost tertile. CONCLUSIONS: Admissions for pediatric firearm injuries were associated with a significant socioeconomic burden in the US, with increasing resource use over time. Pediatric gun violence is a major public health crisis that warrants further research and advocacy to reduce its prevalence and social impact.

The cost of gunshot abdominal vascular injuries. Its impact on patient, family and hospital.

BACKGROUND: Violent trauma with penetrating injuries is a relevant public health issue. Penetrating abdominal wounds cause 90-95% of vascular injuries, which not only have high associated morbidity and lethality, but also involve high attention costs. Cost analysis in hospitals has become a topic of great interest, as it justifies changes in hospital organization and management. OBJECTIVE: Determine the cost of gunshot abdominal vascular injuries for the patient, his family and the hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We drove an observational, descriptive, prospective and longitudinal study of patients with of gunshot abdominal vascular injuries admitted in the Mexican Red Cross Trauma Center in the Federal District from January 1st to October 31st, 2018. RESULTS: 8149 patients were admitted in the emergency department, 149 with a diagnosis of gunshot injury, of which 6 (0.07%) had abdominal vascular injury. The total cost of medical care these patients was on average $174,770.79 (median $132,999.50) per capita, amount that surpasses their annual income and implies an institutional absorption of expenditure up to 95.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Institutional investment on the attention of high-impact pathologies and the development of strategies that facilitate access to health services are a real and priority necessity.

ANTECEDENTES: El trauma violento con lesiones penetrantes es un problema de salud pública relevante. Las heridas penetrantes abdominales causan el 90-95% de las lesiones vasculares, las cuales tienen elevada morbilidad asociada y letalidad, e implican elevados costos de atención. El análisis de costos en los hospitales es de gran interés, pues permite justificar cambios en la organización y la gestión hospitalaria. OBJETIVO: Determinar el costo de las lesiones vasculares abdominales por proyectil de arma de fuego para el paciente, su familia y el hospital. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo y longitudinal de pacientes con lesiones vasculares abdominales por proyectil de arma de fuego que ingresaron en el Centro de Trauma de Cruz Roja Mexicana en Ciudad de México entre enero y octubre de 2018. RESULTADOS: Ingresaron 8149 pacientes, 149 con diagnóstico de herida por proyectil de arma de fuego, de los cuales el 0.07% tuvieron lesión vascular abdominal. El costo total de la atención médica fue en promedio de $174,770.79 (mediana $132,999.50) por persona, el cual supera el ingreso anual de esos pacientes e implica una absorción institucional del gasto de hasta el 95.5%. CONCLUSIONES: La inversión institucional en la atención de patologías con alto impacto y el desarrollo de estrategias para facilitar el acceso a servicios de salud son una necesidad prioritaria real.

[Descriptive study of the profiles of victims of firearm projectile injuries and healthcare costs in a hospital in the Viva Sentinela Network]. / Estudo descritivo do perfil das vítimas com ferimentos por projéteis de arma de fogo e dos custos assistenciais em um hospital da Rede Viva Sentinela.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the profile of victims with injuries caused by firearm projectiles and the cost of treatment at a referral hospital in Midwestern Brazil belonging to the Viva Sentinela Network. METHODS: a descriptive study with convenience samplie was conducted from January to March 2013; data sources were interviews, patients' medical records, and the hospital statistics department. RESULTS: the 150 victims who participated were predominantly male (94.7%), young (67.3%), and drug/alcohol users (80.0%); the main reason of these incidents was drug trafficking/drug debt (45.3%); average health care costs were R$1,291.93 per case. CONCLUSION: the majority of victims were young male users of alcohol/drugs, and involvement with trafficking was the most frequent reason for victimization; average health care costs for these patients were high.

Perfil epidemiológico e custos hospitalares de agressões por armas em adolescentes em Campo Grande, MS, Brasil / Perfil epidemiológico y costos de hospitalización de casos de agresión con armas entre adolescentes en Campo Grande, MS, Brasil / Epidemiological profile and hospitalization costs of cases of assault with weapons among adolescents in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

Analisar as características epidemiológicas de adolescentes internados por ferimentos por armas de fogo e armas brancas em três serviços de emergência de Campo Grande, MS, e estimar os gastos hospitalares dessas internações. Métodos: Estudo transversal. Os dados, de 78 adolescentes (71 masculinos e 7 femininas) de 10 a 19 anos, foram coletados de prontuários abrangendo o período de um ano. Dados sobre custos provieram dos espelhos de autorizações de internação hospitalar. Resultados: Dos pacientes masculinos, 46 (58,9%) foram vítimas de armas de fogo e 25 (32,1%) de armas brancas; nos pacientes, esses números foram 1 (14,3%) e 6 (85,7%), respectivamente. O tempo médio de internação foi de 6,8 dias, com custo médio de R$ 935,00. Conclusão: Constatou-se que em adolescentes as lesões causadas por ambos os tipos de arma são frequentes e têm alto custo econômico e social para as vítimas, suas famílias e a sociedade.

Examinar las características epidemiológicas de adolescentes hospitalizados por lesiones causadas por armas de fuego y armas blancas en tres servicios de emergencia en Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, y estimar los costos de hospitalización correspondientes. Método: Estudio transversal. Los datos de 78 adolescentes (71 varones, 7 mujeres) con edades de 10 a 19 años se obtuvieron de los registros médicos de un año. Los datos sobre los costos provinieron de copias de las autorizaciones de hospitalización. Resultados: Entre los pacientes masculinos, 46 (58,9%) resultaron heridos por armas de fuego y 25 (32,1%) por armas blancas; entre las mujeres estos números fueron 1 (14,3%) y 6 (85,7%), respectivamente. La estancia media hospitalaria fue de 6,8 días, a un costo promedio aproximado de aproximadamente US$ 550 por paciente. Conclusión: Las lesiones causadas por ambos tipos de armas fueron frecuentes entre adolescentes, con altos costos socioeconómicos a las víctimas, sus familias y la sociedad.

Objective: To examine the epidemiological characteristics of adolescents hospitalized for injuries caused by firearms and sharp objects at three emergency services in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, and estimate the corresponding hospitalization costs. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional. Data from 78 adolescents (71 males, 7 females) aged 10 to 19 years were collected from medical records over the course of one year. Data on costs came from copies of admission authorizations. Results: Among male patients, 46 (58.9%) were injured by firearms and 25 (32.1%) by sharp objects; among females, these numbers were 1 (14.3%) and 6 (85.7%), respectively. Mean length of hospital stay was 6.8 days, at a mean cost of roughly US$ 550 per patient. Conclusion: Injuries from both types of weapons were frequent among adolescents, with high economic and social costs to victims, their families, and society.

Participação da radiologia nas perícias necroscópicas de baleados realizadas no Instituto Médico-Legal do Rio de Janeiro / The role of radiology in autopsy in gunshot wounds cases performed

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho aborda as conseqüências de laudos necroscópicos incompletos de baleados, nos casos em que não foi possível o uso de recursos radiológicos para localizar os projéteis de arma de fogo. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 8.185 laudos necroscópicos do Instituto Médico-Legal Afrânio Peixoto, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, referentes à demanda total de cadáveres no período de 1º de janeiro a 31 de dezembro de 2001, dos quais 3.122 casos corresponderam a necropsias de baleados. RESULTADOS: Desses casos, 309 corpos foram sepultados contendo ainda, no seu interior, projéteis de arma de fogo, podendo suscitar futuras indagações judiciais. No mesmo período foram solicitadas 23 exumações, 12 delas com a finalidade de recolher projéteis. Foram calculados os gastos relacionados à realização de necropsias de baleados - R$ 996,85 - e custos alusivos à realização de exumações com a finalidade de recolher projéteis de arma de fogo - R$ 1.155,40, visando a estabelecer o montante financeiro que poderia ser poupado pelos cofres públicos, a ser alocado para finalidades outras, se a perícia médico-legal de baleados, no exame inicial, obtivesse sucesso. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados permitiram concluir que todos os atos necroscópicos de baleados devem seguir protocolos específicos, uma vez que perícias incompletas exigem exumação posterior, com gastos adicionais desnecessários.

[Cost variation of hospitalization due to injuries: head trauma and fire arm accidents]. / Variação no custo de internações hospitalares por lesões: os casos dos traumatismos cranianos e acidentes por armas de fogo.

This article proposes two linear regression models on cost variation of hospitalization (based on data from the Brazilian National Unified Health System - SUS) for two types of injuries: head trauma and related cases (n = 98,156); fire arm injuries and related cases (n = 8,970). Data were collected from the 1997 standardized Hospital Admittance Forms covering all of Brazil. Explanatory variables were gender, age, hospital administration model (public, private, etc.), region of the country, hospitalization in a capital city, use of ICU, surgery, death, duration of hospitalization, most frequent procedures, special procedures, and interaction among certain variables. The two models adjusted well, with R2 = 0.7264 for the first and 0.7663 for the second. Explanatory variables in the first model were all significant, and only three variables in the second failed to show statistical significance. The two main variables in both models were use of ICU and surgery. Diagnostics for detection of outliers, multicolinearity, model specification error, and homoscedasticity were performed.