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Prospective audit of a dedicated ear, nose and throat emergency department and 24-year comparison

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital provides a specialised ear, nose and throat (ENT) Emergency department (ED) service open to patients from the entire country, operating from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays. Recently, this has been under threat of closure.

Aims

We analyse and determine the role of this ED in the current context and compare results to a previous study from June 1990.

Methods

A prospective study over a 1-month period (March 2014) was conducted. A questionnaire was used, adapted from the study in 1990.

Results

Comparative figures from June 1990 are in parentheses. During the study period, there were 945 (1167) consultations from 887 (779) patients. 57 % (45 %) were new patients and 43 % (55 %) were return patients. Repeat attendances were necessary in 54 (325) patients during this month. 56 % (35 %) were referred by their General Practitioner (GP), 38 % (52 %) self-referred, 2 % (8 %) by other hospitals and 4 % (5 %) from other sources. Diagnoses included otitis externa in 24 % (21 %), cerumen in 20 % (15 %), epistaxis in 6 % (9 %), Eustachian tube dysfunction in 12 %, foreign body removal in 4 % (5 %) and four new cases of head and neck cancer. Attendance numbers vary during the year but demand has risen over time.

Conclusions

A dedicated ED provides an important role for ENT in Ireland and offers valuable experience for trainees. The loss of such a department may lead to an overwhelming burden on services in other hospitals.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Iuliana Morariu and all staff in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear ENT Emergency Department in carrying out this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Adelaide road, Dublin 2, Ireland

    R. S. R. Woods, E. Keane, C. V. Timon & S. Hone

Authors
  1. R. S. R. Woods
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  2. E. Keane
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  3. C. V. Timon
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  4. S. Hone
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. S. R. Woods.

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Funding

This study received no funding.

Conflict of interest

All authors have been or currently are employed by the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. No funding or financial support has been received as part of this research.

Ethical approval

The conduct of this study was in accordance with the ethical standards of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Woods, R.S.R., Keane, E., Timon, C.V. et al. Prospective audit of a dedicated ear, nose and throat emergency department and 24-year comparison. Ir J Med Sci 186, 247–254 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-016-1409-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-016-1409-7

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