[Prehospital emergency care injuries from external causes in a region of Venezuela]

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2017 Jan-Feb;55(1):10-17.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, approximately 3 500 000 people die every year as a result of injuries from external causes, in Venezuela these arte the third leading cause of overall morbidity. Nevertheless, in the country there are no records of the defining aspects of prehospital emergency care as a tool to address this socio-health problem, the aim of this investigation.

Methods: A descriptive, transversal, field study based on the information recorded daily for a year paramedics was performed.

Results: A total 1493 injured by external causes were reported, with a mean age of 29.5 ± 12 years, 84.5% male. Injuries mostly less-moderate (69.4%) were due to severe land transport accidents (70.9%) occurred during the day (75.9%), between monday and friday (72.9%), attended in 20 minutes or less, and transferred in 97.3% of cases.

Conclusions: The economically productive young men in areas with higher population density and urbanism are mostly affected by injuries from external causes. In both genres land transport accidents are the most common causes of injury with lower-moderate severity. The care that paramedics provide can be considered adequate.

Introducción: a nivel mundial, anualmente mueren aproximadamente 3 500 000 personas como consecuencia de lesiones debidas a causas externas, lo que representa para Venezuela la tercera causa de morbilidad general. Sin embargo, no existen registros en el país de los aspectos que definen la atención de emergencia prehospitalaria como herramienta para afrontar este problema socio-sanitario, objeto de la presente investigación. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, transversal y de campo con base en la información registrada diariamente durante un año en emergencia prehospitalaria. Resultados: fueron en total 1493 los lesionados por causas externas, con edad promedio de 29.5 ± 12 años, 84.5% del género masculino. Las lesiones fueron, en su mayoría, de severidad menor-moderada (69.4%), debidas a accidentes de transporte terrestre (70.9%), ocurridos de día (75.9%), entre lunes y viernes (72.9%), atendidos en 20 minutos o menos, y trasladados en el 97.3% de los casos. Conclusiones: los hombres jóvenes, económicamente productivos, de las zonas con mayor densidad poblacional y urbanismos son los más afectados por lesiones por causas externas; en ambos géneros, los accidentes de transporte terrestre son las causas más frecuente de lesión, de severidad menor-moderada; asimismo, la atención de emergencia prehospitalaria puede considerarse adecuada.

Keywords: Emergency treatment; First aid; Patient care; Venezuela.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Emergency Medical Services*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Trauma Severity Indices
  • Venezuela / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / diagnosis
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / etiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / therapy*
  • Young Adult