Chávez RG

Language: Spanish
References: 11
Page: 190-193
PDF size: 545.82 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. A still non reported proportion of patients referred to the secondary care otolaryngologist deserve no specialized attention, which saturates services and delays surgical attention. A study was conducted to identify this proportion and formulate alternatives to decrease it Methods. The referral diagnosis to the Otolaryngology service was identified and classified, according to the involved anatomical region. The proportion and 95% confidence intervals (95% C.I.) that each anatomical region represented as a cause of referral were identified. The referring unit was also identified. Results. 47 patients, mean age 26.6 years. The anatomic region that originated the referral was; nose and paranasal sinuses in 20 patients (43%), the pharynx in 18 (36%), the ear in 8 (17 %) and the larynx in 1 (2%). The referring unit was a primary care Health Center in 21 cases (44.8%), a pediatric hospital in 12 (26.5%), a general hospital in 9 (18.2%), a private medical office in 4 (8.2%) and a Health Institute in one (2%). Seventeen patients (36%, 95% I.C. 22 to 50%) could have been treated at a primary care unit. Conclusions. A third of the patients referred to a hospital as a result of an otolaryngological diseae, could have been efficiently managed at the unit that send them. Continuous skill training and feedback to the pñmary care level could reduce the proportion of unnecessary referrals.

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