[Evaluation of patients with polytrauma treated in the emergency department].
Polytrauma care is a very important diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The clinical profile of patients with multiorgan injuries admitted to the emergency department (ED) is different, similarly to severity of injuries.


OBJECTIVE
An evaluation of patients with polytrauma treated in ED and proposition of diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm in initial management in patients with multiply injuries.


METHODS
The analysis of medical data was performed in 72 polytraumized patients. Their age, sex, time of admission to ED, influence of alcohol and drugs, vital parameters, etiological factors, severity of injuries and the therapy after initial management in ED were studied.


RESULTS
The majority of patients were admitted to ED in the morning. There were 25 females and 47 males. Their mean age was 41 years. Patients between 21-40 years of age represented half of all victims. There were 10 patients under influence of alcohol or drugs. Vital signs like Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and respiratory rate (RR) evaluated at the initial examination and counted as a values of Revised Trauma Score (RTS) in most cases were 7.841. The traffic accidents were the most frequent ethiologic factors. Head injuries, chest injuries and fractures were the most frequently. After initial treatment in ED, 22 patients were discharged home and 23 were hospitalized, because they had been needed surgical treatment, and 8 because of threat of life. 6 patients died in ED.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiorgan injuries were diagnosed mainly in young men after traffic accidents in the morning. Head injuries, chest injuries and fractures were the most frequent. Author propose the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for initial management in ED in patients with multiply injuries.
Karwan
Krzysztof
K
Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny w Warszawie, Szpitalny Oddział Ratunkowy CSK MON. karwankris@wp.pl
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult