Abstract
We reviewed retrospectively 125 surgical deaths in the accident and emergency department of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, a major health facility in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, between April 2000 and March 2003. Data were extracted from the casualty records. The male-to-female ratio was 2.8:1. The mean age was 36.5+16.9, with 84 being between 20 and 49 years. Road traffic deaths constituted the highest toll (n=52). Head injury was the commonest primary cause of death (n=37), while cardio respiratory arrest (n=59) was the commonest secondary cause of death. The majority of patients died within 24 h. Surgical deaths constitute a significant load in emergency room deaths. Most of these are from road trauma, and efforts at prevention are advocated.
Résumé
Entre avril 2000 et mars 2003 nous avons étudié rétrospectivement 125 morts chirurgicales dans le Département des urgences de l’hopital Universitaire de Port Harcourt, centre de santé important du delta du Niger au Nigéria. Les données ont été extraites des registres des accidents. Le rapport hommes/femmes était 2.8:1. L’âge moyen était 36.5+16.9 ans avec 84 cas entre 20 et 49 ans. Les morts de la circulation routière ont constitué le plus fort groupe (n=52). Le traumatisme cranien était la cause primaire la plus fréquente de la mort (n=37) tandis que l’arrêt cardio-respiratoire (n=59) était la plus fréquente cause secondaire. La majorité des patients sont mort dans les 24 h. Les morts chirurgicales constituent une charge considérable dans les Urgences. La plupart sont liées aux traumatismes de la route, et des efforts de prévention sont préconisés.
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Ekere, A.U., Yellowe, B.E. & Umune, S. Surgical mortality in the emergency room. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 28, 187–190 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-004-0548-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-004-0548-z