ABSTRACT
INTRODUÇÃO: As queimaduras autoinfligidas geram consequências físicas, psicológicas e financeiras não só para a vítima, mas também para familiares e para sociedade. A prevalência desse tipo de acidente tem ampla variedade na literatura. O trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o perfil epidemiológico, a conduta e a taxa de letalidade dos pacientes com queimaduras por autoagressão atendidos em centro de tratamento de queimados, como uma forma de contribuir para intervenção efetiva em fatores e comportamentos de risco para tais acidentes. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo por meio da análise dos prontuários de pacientes internados na Unidade de Queimados do Hospital Regional da Asa Norte, Brasília - DF, no período de janeiro de 2008 a dezembro de 2012. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 88 pacientes autoinfligidos, 54,5% do gênero feminino, idade média de 33 anos, média da superfície corporal queimada de 36%. A média de tempo de internação foi de 23 dias. A chama aberta foi o agente etiológico das queimaduras em 97,7% dos casos e o álcool foi o agente acelerador em 68,2%. A taxa de letalidade foi de 32,9%. Sessenta pacientes apresentavam comorbidades, sendo os distúrbios psiquiátricos e o etilismo os principais. CONCLUSÃO: As vítimas de queimaduras por autoagressão são geralmente mulheres, com idade média de 33 anos, utilizando álcool como agente da queimadura, afetando em média 36% da superfície corporal, com distúrbios psiquiátricos associados em 32,9% e com taxa de letalidade de 32,9%. No âmbito social, deve-se pensar em medidas públicas que detectem os pacientes em potencial para que seja instituída terapêutica adequada.
INTRODUCTION: Self-inflicted burn injuries lead to physical, psychological, and economic consequences not only to the victims but also to their families and the society. The prevalence of this type of accident varies greatly throughout the existing literatures. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile, behavior, and lethality rate in patients with self-inflicted burn injuries who received treatment in a burn unit, as a way to contribute to the effective intervention to minimize the effects of risk factors and behaviors associated with this type of accident. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study in which we analyzed medical records of patients hospitalized in the burn unit of Asa Norte's Regional Hospital, DF, Brazil, during the period between January 2008 and December 2012. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 88 patients with self-inflicted burn injuries, of whom 54.5% were female, with a mean age of 33 years and mean burned body surface area of 36%. The mean hospitalization time was 23 days. Open flame was the etiological agent in 97.7% of the burn cases, and alcohol was the accelerating agent in 68.2% of these cases. The lethality rate was 32.9%. Sixty patients had comorbidities, with psychiatric disorders and alcoholism being the most common. CONCLUSION: The patients with self-inflicted burn injuries were generally women, with a mean age of 33 years, who used alcohol as accelerating agent. The mean body surface area affected was 36%. Of the patients, 32.9% had associated psychiatric disorders. The lethality rate was 32.9%. From a social perspective, public measures should be established to detect potential patients in order to administer appropriate therapies.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , History, 21st Century , Suicide , Wounds and Injuries , Health Profile , Burn Units , Burns , Burns, Chemical , Health Behavior , Medical Records , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Retrospective Studies , Self-Injurious Behavior , Evaluation Study , Mental Disorders , Suicide/psychology , Wounds and Injuries/therapy , Burn Units/standards , Burn Units/statistics & numerical data , Burns/epidemiology , Burns, Chemical/epidemiology , Health Behavior/ethics , Medical Records/standards , Medical Records/statistics & numerical data , Self-Injurious Behavior/pathology , Self-Injurious Behavior/psychology , Mental Disorders/pathology , Mental Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
A 30-year-old male was admitted with bilateral painful breast enlargement of 6 months duration. There was a past history of surgery for similar bilateral swellings, which was then diagnosed as fibrocystic disease. On examination both breasts were firm to hard, tender & adherent to deeper structures. A single axillary lymph node was palpable on each side. The clinical diagnosis was sarcoma of the breast. After initial denial, the patient confessed to having injected gear oil into both the breasts,for the purpose of augmentation. He was a homosexual.
Subject(s)
Adult , Breast Diseases/etiology , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/etiology , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Industrial Oils/toxicity , Male , Self-Injurious Behavior/pathologyABSTRACT
Deliberate Self Harm [DSH], formerly known as parasuicide, is commonly diagnosed in hospital emergency rooms, typically presenting with self poisoning and less often with self induced lacerations mostly of the wrists and forearms. We report two cases of atypical presentation that posed a diagnostic challenge for the surgeons in our hospital and discuss the epidemiology, psychopathology and treatment options