title: Analysis of headache management in emergency room.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the management of headache patients presenting to the emergency room (ER) at a university hospital in Zagreb. Retrospective analysis of all patients with headache was carried out during 2007. Patients were analyzed according to the diagnoses, diagnostic procedures, treatment and further referral. Among 6225 patients, 1385 (22.3%) complained of headache; there were 894 (64.5%) women and 491 (35.5%) men. Migraine with or without aura, tension-type headache or "cervicogenic headache" had 1004 (72.5%) patients (women 67.5% and men 32.5%); secondary headache had 381 (27.5%) patients: 89 (6.4%) stroke or intracranial hemorrhage, 33 (2.4%) primary tumor, 54 (3.9%) metastatic tumor, 200 (14.4%) head trauma with or without hemorrhage, and 5 (0.4%) had an infectious disease. Diagnostic procedure was performed in 413 (29.8%) patients: 314 (22.7%) underwent computerized tomography scan of the brain, 85 (6.1%) electroencephalography and 70 (5%) ultrasound examination. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and diazepam were the most commonly prescribed medications, followed by fluids, simple analgesics and antiemetics, whereas opioids were prescribed to 3.0% of patients. Among patients with primary headaches, diagnostic procedure was performed in 235 (23.2%) patients, while 40 (4.0%) patients were hospitalized. In conclusion, one-fifth of the patients presenting to neurological ER complain of headache and approximately three-quarters have primary headache. The majority of patients are treated with NSAIDs and a minority with opioids. Better treatment for these patients should be provided by general practitioners and neurologists in outpatient headache clinics.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia. vlasta.vukovic@uclmail.net
authors.forename: Vlasta Vuković
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strineka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Nasice General Hospital, Nasice, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knezević-Pavlić
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Virovitica General Hospital, Virovitica, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tumpić-Jaković
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Arijana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lovrencić-Huzjan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017523:Croatia; D004453:Echoencephalography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D051270:Headache Disorders, Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics