Nontraumatic headache in the Emergency Department: a survey in the province of Trieste.
The objective was to study the demographics, diagnostic procedures and therapies employed in order to provide guidelines to Emergency Department (ED) physicians. A six-month retrospective analysis of the records of all patients presenting with nontraumatic headache (NTH) to the EDs of the Province of Trieste was performed. Of 38,238 patients screened, 300 (0.8%) presented with NTH and 49.7% were referred to specialists. Patients were classified as having secondary headache (41.3%), primary headache (24.3%) and headache with no obvious source (NOS) (34.4%). One hundred and seventy patients were treated with mono- or polytherapy. Of 50 patients with migraine, 36 were treated with NSAIDs and 4 with triptans. 68.4% of patients were referred to a general practitioner and 31.6% were admitted. The frequency of NTH was lower than in other studies. NOS headache was frequent. Only 10% of migraineurs received triptans. Diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for ED physicians are needed.
Relja
Giuliano
G
Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, Headache Center, University of Trieste, Italy.
Granato
Antonio
A
Capozzoli
Francesca
F
Maggiore
Cosimo
C
Catalan
Mauro
M
Pizzolato
Gilberto
G
Zalukar
Walter
W
Livia
Vincenzo
V
Gregorutti
Sergio
S
Zorzon
Marino
M
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D051270:Headache Disorders, Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents