Deaths from abdominal trauma: analysis of 1888 forensic autopsies.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the epidemiological profile of deaths due to abdominal trauma at the Forensic Medicine Institute of Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study of the reports of deaths due to abdominal trauma autopsied from 2006 to 2011. RESULTS: we analyzed 1.888 necropsy reports related to abdominal trauma. Penetrating trauma was more common than blunt one and gunshot wounds were more prevalent than stab wounds. Most of the individuals were male, brown-skinned, single and occupationally active. The median age was 34 years. The abdominal organs most injured in the penetrating trauma were the liver and the intestines, and in blunt trauma, the liver and the spleen. Homicide was the most prevalent circumstance of death, followed by traffic accidents, and almost half of the cases were referred to the Forensic Medicine Institute by a health unit. The blood alcohol test was positive in a third of the necropsies where it was performed. Cocaine and marijuana were the most commonly found substances in toxicology studies. CONCLUSION: in this sample. there was a predominance of penetrating abdominal trauma in young, brown and single men, the liver being the most injured organ.

Deaths from abdominal trauma: analysis of 1888 forensic autopsies / Óbitos por trauma abdominal: análise de 1888 autopsias médico-legais

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the epidemiological profile of deaths due to abdominal trauma at the Forensic Medicine Institute of Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of the reports of deaths due to abdominal trauma autopsied from 2006 to 2011. Results: we analyzed 1.888 necropsy reports related to abdominal trauma. Penetrating trauma was more common than blunt one and gunshot wounds were more prevalent than stab wounds. Most of the individuals were male, brown-skinned, single and occupationally active. The median age was 34 years. The abdominal organs most injured in the penetrating trauma were the liver and the intestines, and in blunt trauma, the liver and the spleen. Homicide was the most prevalent circumstance of death, followed by traffic accidents, and almost half of the cases were referred to the Forensic Medicine Institute by a health unit. The blood alcohol test was positive in a third of the necropsies where it was performed. Cocaine and marijuana were the most commonly found substances in toxicology studies. Conclusion: in this sample. there was a predominance of penetrating abdominal trauma in young, brown and single men, the liver being the most injured organ.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o perfil epidemiológico dos óbitos por trauma abdominal no Instituto Médico Legal de Belo Horizonte. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo dos laudos de óbitos relacionados a trauma abdominal necropsiados no período de 2006 a 2011. Resultados: foram analisados 1888 laudos necroscópicos de trauma abdominal. O trauma penetrante foi mais comum que o contuso, e o decorrente de projéteis de arma de fogo mais prevalente que o relacionado a armas brancas. A maioria dos indivíduos era do sexo masculino, morena, solteira e ativa do ponto de vista ocupacional. A média etária foi de 34 anos. O homicídio foi a circunstância do óbito mais prevalente, seguido dos acidentes de trânsito, e quase a metade dos casos foi recebida no Instituto Médico Legal proveniente de uma unidade saúde. Os órgãos abdominais mais lesados no trauma penetrante foram o fígado e os intestinos, e no trauma contuso foram o fígado e o baço. A pesquisa de alcoolemia foi positiva em um terço das necropsias onde foi realizada. Cocaína e maconha foram as substâncias mais encontradas nos exames toxicológicos. Conclusão: nesta amostra houve predominância do trauma abdominal penetrante, em homens jovens, morenos e solteiros, sendo o fígado o órgão mais lesado.