The retrospective analysis of nontroumatic forensic cases in emergency department

Abstract

Introduction: This study is a retrospective review of the charts of non-traumatic forensic cases presented to the Atatürk University Hospital Emergency Department.
Material and Method: This study was prepared after filtering out traumatic forensic cases from the computer records. ED charts were reviewed to identify age, gender, type of the case and mechanism, transport mode and duration, treatments given during transport, time spent in the ED, GCS, ratio of using CT and outcome.
Results: All of the 426 cases presented to ED with non-traumatic forensic causes were included by this study. In the analysis of gender distribution of the cases, 300 cases were female, 126 cases were male. The mean age of patients was 28.19 (13-97). When the mechanism of cases was studied; 246 of patients have attempted suicide and 206 of them did so by using medications. 180 of the cases experienced accidental problems and 136 of these cases suffered from CO poisoning. 141 of patients presented to ED between 20: 00 and 24: 00. In 424 patients, duration of stay in the ED changed between 0 and 96 hours. 95 patients were discharged within 2 hours of arrival in the ED. 257 of patients were transported to ED by private vehicles. 294 of patients have not received any treatment during the transportation. 226 of cases were treated in ED and 200 of patients were hospitalized in different clinics. No death has occurred in the study group.
Conclusion: We analyzed that in the non-traumatic forensic cases, most of patients, especially women, presented to the ED following suicidal attempts using medications, and most of the accidental cases were result of CO poisoning.