Chronic illness masquerading as acute injury in pre-hospital care.
Clinical diagnosis in pre-hospital care is challenging. It aims to identify life-threatening pathology that requires immediate treatment prior to evacuation to hospital. This case report present two elderly patients injured in a road traffic accident who presented with signs consistent with acute life-threatening pathology. Subsequent investigations in hospital revealed that in both patients, the underlying pathology was secondary to chronic malignancy and not as a result of any injury sustained during the accident. The importance of past medical history and the incidence of co-morbidity in relation to pre-hospital care are discussed.
Deakin
Charles D
CD
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Highcroft, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5DH, UK. charlesdeakin@doctors.org.uk
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis