Clinical-epidemiological characterization of polytraumatized patients treated at “Comandante Pinares” General Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: polytrauma is currently a public health problem, being one of the main causes of mortality and disability. Objective: to characterize clinically and epidemiologically polytraumatized patients attended the emergency department at “Comandante Pinares” General Hospital during 2019. Methods: observational, descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study, in polytraumatized patients attended the emergency department at “Comandante Pinares” General Hospital during 2019. Twenty-three patients were studied, the information was collected through medical records, and descriptive statistics was used for the analysis of variables by means of absolute and relative percentage frequencies. Results: male patients predominated (52,2 %) between 31 and 40 years old (26,1 %). Traffic accidents were the most frequent cause (65,2 %). Open trauma predominated (60,9 %), with a greater number of cranioencephalic traumas (39,1 %) and limb traumas (30,43 %). Mechanical ventilation was applied in 69,6 % of the cases, which was a risk factor for developing pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation in 30,4 %. Conclusions: polytrauma was common in male patients, generally during the third and fourth decade of life, being mostly caused by traffic accidents. Open traumas, cranioencephalic traumas and the need for mechanical ventilation were common, as well as the development of pneumonia associated to mechanical ventilation in patients with ventilatory support.

Keywords

• heridas y lesiones
• traumatismo múltiple
• fracturas múltiples
• urgencias médicas