A profile of deaths among trauma patients in a university hospital: The Philippine experience
2011

Trauma Deaths in the Philippine General Hospital

Sample size: 4947 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Rafael J. Consunji, Marinas John Paul Emerson Serrato, Maddumba Jason Rafael Aspuria, Daniel A. Dela Paz Jr.

Primary Institution: Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines, Manila

Hypothesis

What are the mortality patterns among trauma patients at the Philippine General Hospital?

Conclusion

The majority of trauma deaths in this study were due to intentional injuries, highlighting the need for a public health approach to violence prevention.

Supporting Evidence

  • There were 231 deaths among 4947 trauma patients admitted during the study period.
  • The most common mechanisms of injury were stab wounds (32.9%), vehicular crashes (28.6%), and gunshot wounds (25.5%).
  • Multiple organ failure/sepsis was the leading cause of death, followed by exsanguination.

Takeaway

This study looked at people who died from injuries at a hospital in the Philippines and found that many deaths were caused by violence, like stabbings and shootings.

Methodology

A descriptive and retrospective review of patient records over three years was conducted using an electronic patient database.

Potential Biases

The data may not represent all trauma cases due to the exclusion of certain types of injuries and reliance on hospital records.

Limitations

The study excluded deaths caused by drowning, poisonings, or burns, and relied on the completeness of medical records.

Participant Demographics

The mean age of fatalities was 33.5 years, with a predominance of male victims (88.7%).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.5249/jivr.v3i2.39

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