title: [Use of diagnostic tests in problems of internal medicine. Analysis of 1,667 ambulatory patients attending the first aid unit of a general hospital].
abstract: Patients with problems of internal medicine presenting at first-aid units of city hospitals represent a considerable work load. 1667 patients of this type have been examined retrospectively. The most numerous group had cardiocirculatory (22%) and nervous system (21%) problems, 9% had problems linked to their mental state and 11% dermatology complaints in general. 1047 patients underwent further investigation and/or specialist examination (247 neurological and 166 cardiological). Patients with jaundice, diabetes mellitus and cardiac decompensation underwent the highest number of laboratory examinations. The highest percentage of X-rays was done on patients suffering from chronic bronchitis during an acute episode, the highest percentage of ECGs in patients with prethoracic pain or cardiopalmus. In first aid also, some tests seem to be carried out as routine or for legal medicine purposes while for problems where tests are less easy or harder to understand (e.g. loss of consciousness episodes), a specialist is frequently brought in. The work load on the first-aid out-patients structure can be reduced by promoting greater awareness of the problem on the part of the internist and by rerouting users to non-hospital structures.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Medico di Pronto Soccorso, Ospedale San Carlo Borromeo, Milano.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Natangelo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Subert
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis
vernacular_title: Impiego dei tests diagnostici nei problemi internistici. Analisi di 1,667 pazienti ambulatoriali afferenti al pronto soccorso di un ospedale generale.