Study of the Average Elapsed Time for Head Trauma Patients from the Accident until Transportation to Hospital and Commencement of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Treatment

Abstract

Accident and crashes are major causes of mortality in today’s society. In approximately one half of the cases of death are following trauma and head injuries. In cure and recovery of patients , the elapsed time from the accident till the arrival of the patient and the start of medical procedures has a significant role. This survey has been conducted in order to determine the average elapsed time in relation to head injury patients from the time of the accident until arrival at the Mobasher Kashany hospital of Hamadan and beginning of diagnostic and therapeutic treatment. This descriptive research project was conducted from the twenty fourth of June until the twenty second of August in the year 2000. All of the information for this survey was obtained from the patients, their companions, emergency room personnel and study of admission forms. One hundred and forty head trauma patients were assayed. Results showed that the average transportation time obtained in non referral patients was 101.2±92.3 minutes , and in referral patients it was 221±105.1 minutes. The average for all one hundred and forty patients was 139±98.7 minutes. The average time from arrival till the start of thrapeutic action was 76.8±61.1 minutes , and until performance of the brain CT scan was 150±120.1 minutes. The most prevalence causes of transportation delays were the long distances to be travelled and non availability of appropriate vehicles for transportation. The predominant cause of CT scan delay was delay to send the patient by the medical staff. The average transportation time of head injury victims in our area , especially patients that were referred from distant town, is much longer than world standards. In order to reduce this time we must have the cooperation of the emergency vehicle personnel, the police department and the minisrty of roads and transportaion

Keywords

• accidents / brain injury / head injury