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Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2000;11(2): 162-169. |
| Analysis of Expired Patients in the Emergency Room |
| Pil Seong Ko, Suck Ju Cho |
| Department of Emergency Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan, Korea. pnuhem@netsgo.com |
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| 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. |
| Key words:
Analysis, Expired patients |
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