Summary

Characteristics of deaths in a hospital emergency department

Mínguez Masó S, Supervía Caparrós A, Campodarve Botet I, Aguirre Tejedo A, Echarte Pazos JL, López Casanova MJ

Affiliation of the authors

Emergency Department. Hospital Universitario del Mar. Barcelona, Spain.

DOI

Quote

Mínguez Masó S, Supervía Caparrós A, Campodarve Botet I, Aguirre Tejedo A, Echarte Pazos JL, López Casanova MJ. Characteristics of deaths in a hospital emergency department. Emergencias. 2008;20:113-6

Summary

Objectives: To report clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who died in

our hospital emergency department and to assess several aspects of medical care that

could be improved.

Methods: Descriptive study of patients who died in the Emergency Department between

January 1st and December 31st, 2006, excluding those patients who expired in

the areas of pediatrics and gynecology. Demographic and clinical data, length of stay

and location/placement of the patient at the time of death were recorded.

Results: Mortality rate was 0.2%. The most common type of patient was an elderly

person whose death was expected. The most frequent cause of death was end-stage

malignant disease and the median length of stay was 6 hours. Only 25% of patients

undergone cardiopulmonary resuscitation manoeuvers. Prevalence of cognitive impairment

was 32%. Patient location at the time of death was considered correct in most

cases.

Conclusions: Given the significant ratio of patients with a terminal illness who die in

the Emergency Departments, to enhance the transfer to more specific areas is mandatory.

To design specific protocols for this group of patients is also desirable.

 

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