ABSTRACT
Background: Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) emer-gencies are common in all communities. Early diagnosis and prompt management will result in reduction in morbidity and mortality.Objectives: To assess the size and distribution of ENT emergencies; obtain base line data and out-line preventive measures.Design: Clinical records of patients admitted for ENT emergency care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2002 were studied with respect to sex; age; diag-nosis on admission and outcome of emergency care. Exclusion criteria were admissions for termi-nal cancer care.Results: A total of 750 patients made up of 476 males and 274 females were admitted for emer-gency care. The age range was 1 month to 100 years; mean age was 25.5 years and median age was 18.23 years. The commonest causes of emer-gency admissions were foreign bodies in the oe-sophagus in 310 (41.3