Clinical Analysis of the Dizzy Patients in a Department of Emergency Medicine.
- Author:
Gyu Cheol HAN
1
;
Eun Jung LEE
;
Jong Su HA
;
Dong Kyu KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon Medical School, Incheon, Korea. Han@ghil.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dizziness;
Acute vertigo;
Emergency department
- MeSH:
Brain Injuries;
Diagnosis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Dizziness;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Medicine*;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Headache;
Humans;
Primary Health Care;
Retrospective Studies;
Unconsciousness;
Vertigo;
Vestibular Neuronitis
- From:Journal of the Korean Balance Society
2003;2(2):206-210
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The patient presenting to the emergency department with the complaint of dizziness is one of the most common as well as most challenging problems confronting the emergency physician today. Dizziness is a vague symptom of disease ranging from serious to benign. The differential diagnosis and proper management of dizziness in a department of emergency medicine are the most important things. We undertook this study to evaluate the character and clinical analysis of the dizzy patients and to discuss the significance and necessity of primary care in a department of emergency medicine. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From September 1999 to October 2003, we sampled the 1,371 dizzy patients who visited the Emergency Department(ED). Of these patients, the 650 patients performed electronystagmography(ENG) and rotatory chair test were selected, except for the patients with loss of consciousness, known psychiatric disease or direct brain injury. RESULTS: The 650 patients were attributed to acute peripheral vestibulopathy in 88.5% (575 patients) of patients, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in 9.5% (62 patients) of patients, central origin in 1.4% (9 patients) of patients, other organic origin in 0.6% (4 patients) of patients. In a retrospective analysis of patients with central origin, the symptoms estimated at central origin, for example, persistent headache, were found. CONCLUSION: The exact diagnosis and management for the dizzy patients in a department of emergency medicine require the primary physician's concern and understanding for dizziness.
