Injury
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To evaluate the prevalence of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) among blunt trauma patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine if ARDS is associated with higher mortality, morbidity and worse discharge outcome. ⋯ The presence of ARDS was not associated with higher mortality or worse discharge disability. It was, however, associated with higher hospital morbidity, longer ICU and hospital length of stay.
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Recurrent emergency room referrals and re-hospitalisation of terror victims (external cause of injury E990-E998 and selected cases from E970-E978) [International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision. Clinical modification, 5th ed. (ICD-9-CM). Los Angeles, CA: Practice Management Information Corporation; 1998] have not as yet been examined in the literature. Our objective was to evaluate the extent of hospital services' usage following a terror event and to characterise the casualties who return for hospitalisation and rehabilitation following their discharge. ⋯ The recurrent hospitalisation of terror victims places a heavy burden on the health system. Further studies should be conducted to determine the reasons for these recurrent referrals and to explore whether the number of recurrent referrals can be reduced or at least planned for.