Analysis of Expired Patients in the Emergency Room.
- Author:
Pil Seong KO
1
;
Suck Ju CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan, Korea. pnuhem@netsgo.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Analysis;
Expired patients
- MeSH:
Ambulances;
Busan;
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Consciousness;
Education;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Medical Services;
Emergency Service, Hospital*;
Female;
Heart Arrest;
Humans;
Incidence;
Intensive Care Units;
Internal Medicine;
Male
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2000;11(2):162-169
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The prehospital care system in the Pusan area is primitive in organization, and the emergency medical system of every hospital needs to be developed. A analysis of patients who were treated in emergency rooms and who died is necessary in order to establish an emergency medical service system which is appropriate for the community. METHOD: The authors reviewed the records of 117 patients who died in the emergency room of Pusan National University Hospital from January 1998 to December 1998. RESULTS: 1) Among the 117 patients, 68 patients were male (58.1%) and 49 patients were female (41.9%). The incidence of patients over the age of 70 was very high (33 cases, 28.2%). 2) Among the 117 patients, 99 patients died due to disease (84.6%), 16 due to trauma, and 2 due to intoxication. The most prevalent disease was cardiovascular disease. 3) Among the 117 patients, 63 patients arrived voluntarily (53.8%); the remainder were transferred from other hospitals. Forty-eight patients were transported by 119 ambulance (41.0%), and 41 patients were transported by hospital ambulance. 4) As for consciousness level, 52 patients (44.4%) were alert upon arrival at the emergency room, but 42 patients (35.9%) were unresponsive. 5) In 53 patients, the intervals between arrival at the emergency room and the onset of cardiac arrest were from 2 to 24 hours (45.3%). 6) Cardiac arrest was most frequent between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am. 7) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was done in 74 patients (63.2%), and the mean duration was from 30 minutes to 1 hour. 8) Sixty-six patients were patients of internal medicine, and their mean stay time was 17 hours 27 minutes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that systematic education in advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, expansion of emergency physicians, an increase in the number of intensive care units are required.
