RESUMO
160 consecutive hand infections presented to an Accident and Emergency department over a four-month period. All but one were treated solely on an out-patient basis. The mean delay to presentation was three days, the mean duration of treatment was six days. Follow-up to complete resolution was achieved in 89% of cases. No patients were treated with parenteral antibiotics. The need for careful assessment, early aggressive surgery, and meticulous attention to the principles of wound care by experienced clinicians is emphasized.
Assuntos
Traumatismos da Mão/epidemiologia , Infecção dos Ferimentos/epidemiologia , Adulto , Assistência Ambulatorial , Animais , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Mordeduras e Picadas/epidemiologia , Terapia Combinada , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Feminino , Traumatismos da Mão/terapia , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores de Tempo , Infecção dos Ferimentos/microbiologia , Infecção dos Ferimentos/terapiaRESUMO
Of 26358 patients taken by ambulance to the accident and emergency departments of two large hospitals, 1185 were admitted to resuscitation areas. The scope for ambulance staff to employ a range of advanced techniques at the scene of incidents was assessed by using information relating to the condition of patients when they were picked up by the ambulance and on admission, time in transit, details from hospital records, and outcome at three months. For non-survivors further assessment was made of the benefit, in terms of survival, which might have accrued had advanced techniques been used. The results of the assessment of benefit were compared with estimates of benefit from other studies. In cases of cardiopulmonary arrest the potential to save lives was less optimistic than earlier estimates, and in cases of trauma the potential to save lives was negligible.
Assuntos
Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Algoritmos , Ambulâncias , Humanos , Avaliação de Processos e Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Ressuscitação , Escócia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
We present a prospective study of 1,074 consecutive hand problems which were presented to our Accident and Emergency Department over an eight week period. This number accounted for 1 in 5 of all accident attendances. Over 40% of these patients were males aged 12-29 years. Nearly half of the hand patients presented within two hours of injury. Over half the patients needed only reassurance or a simple dressing but 55 patients (5%) had to be admitted for surgery.
