Otorhinolaryngology emergency department hospitalizations in a secondary medical center

Abstract

Introduction/Objective. The overall number of emergency department visits, including otorhinolaryngology, has increased. Due to population growth, industry and traffic expansion, workload of the otorhinolaryngology emergency department is steadily on the rise. The objective of this study was to determine most common indications for an emergency hospitalization in the otorhinolaryngology department in a secondary medical center. Also, we examined the course of diagnostics and treatment upon admittance, the outcome of hospitalization, and possible referral to a tertiary medical center. Methods. This retrospective study included patients who were urgently hospitalized at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Djordje Joanovic General Hospital in Zrenjanin, Serbia, during a two-year period. The data were obtained by processing the patients? medical charts. Results. The study included 428 patients who were urgently hospitalized at the department of otorhinolaryngology of a secondary medical center during a two-year period. Of the total number, 245 (57.2%) were male and 183 (42.8%) were female, with the average age of 48.5 years. The patients were most frequently hospitalized due to tonsillopharyngitis and its complications, followed by head and neck trauma. Most of the patients were treated conservatively, with medication therapy (72%), and 28% underwent surgical or other invasive intervention. Twenty-seven (6.3%) patients were referred to a tertiary medical center, which correlated significantly with the number of comorbidities and consultative exams. Conclusion. Otorhinolaryngology inflammatory/infectious diseases are the most frequent indication for urgent hospital admission to a secondary medical center. Most of the patients were treated conservatively. Referral to a tertiary medical center significantly correlated with the number of comorbidities and consultative exams.