Penetrating trauma in Auckland.

To establish the spectrum of penetrating trauma presenting to a city hospital and review the results of management, all patients brought to the resuscitation room at Auckland Hospital over a one year period were evaluated. Of 602 patients, only 41 (7%) had penetrating injuries. Thirty-one patients had stab or slashing injuries, seven had gunshot wounds and three had other forms of penetrating injury. Overall mortality was 17% which included 4/31 stab wounds and 3/7 gunshot wounds. Three of the four patients with fatal stab wounds died from exsanguination in the resuscitation room. A system which allows prompt resuscitation and rapid transfer to the operating theatre is needed to improve survival in patients suffering exsanguinating injury.