Mortality in a thoracic surgery department of a University Hospital of Rabat

This study was mainly done from the wards' registers, the hospital's registers, the death certificates and the medical charts. We noted 343 deaths among the 10.140 patients admitted during the ten years [3.4%]. Deaths were more frequent in males [3.7%] than in females [2.6%]. Deaths were more frequent in patients admitted from the emergency unit of the hospital [8%]. They occured a little more during autumn and winter [55.4%]. Forty two percent occured during the first ten days of hospitalisation and 15% during the first day. Cancer was the most frequent cause of death [36.7% with 20.4% were primitive lung cancer]. The principal other causes were: tuberculosis and its sequelae [15.6%], bronchial, pulmonary and pleural non specific infections [12.5%], hydatic cyst [9%], chronic broncho-pulmonary diseases [6.1%]. No cause was determined in 10% of cases. Among the 3.248 surgical patients we noted 63 deaths [1.9%]: 10.6% for primitive lung cancer, 5% for aspergilloma, 2.1% for tuberculosis and its sequelae and 0.9% for hydatic cysts. The importance of hospital mortality studies is stressed

Abcesses in previously unaffected adult's lungs. 100 cases

The authors recall the main clinical radiological, bacteriological and therapeutic characteristics of a 100 cases of abcesses in previously unaffected adults lungs observed over a period of 10 years [1968-1977]. They note the young age of a great number of patients, the long evolution preceeding the first consultation illustrated by the frequency of the vomica and the dyspnea. The radiological aspect is typical in 89% of the cases. The bacteriological study, not quite conclusive is in fact not necessary to conduct the treatment. Recovery is achieved in 94% of the cases