A five year analysis of death in accident and emergency room of a semi-urban hospital.

A 5 year retrospective survey of deaths at the Accident and Emergency Unit was carried out to determine the demographic pattern, causes and time spent before demise. There were 475 deaths, annual rate of 95 cases. Males in 279 (58.8%) and 186 females (41.2%), age ranged from 15-90 years, mean 44 SD +/- 21 years. Medical diseases in 354 (74.5%), trauma in 72 (15.2%) and surgical conditions 49 (10.3%) patients There were 135 (38%) cases of cardiovascular diseases and pulmonary diseases 115 (32.6%) patients. Tuberculosis and pneumonia were the most common of pulmonary conditions. Central nervous diseases and gastro-intestinal diseases in 46 (13%) and 40 (11.2) respectively, mainly infectious conditions. Road Traffic Accident caused death in 51 (70.5%), assaults in 8 (11.4%) cases, gunshot and poison 5 (6.8%) each, and snake bites in only 3 (4.5%) cases of trauma. Surgical acute abdomen with peritonitis occurred in 18 (36%) cases, pyomyositis with septicaemia in 7(133%), gastrointestinal bleeding 5 (10%) and burns in only 3 (6.7%) cases In conclusion, over two-thirds of deaths in accident and emergency unit were due to medical problems. The means of the age were in late thirties- mid forties, there was no significant difference in the mean age of those who died of medical, trauma and surgical problems. Trauma victims spent the shortest mean time in accident and emergency before death, the longest staying were the victims of medical diseases.