DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i02.033

Pages: 483-488

The accident and emergency unit is the first point of call for all critically ill or injured patients in any hospital and varying degrees of severity of various illnesses and injuries present here, some leading to death within the period of admission. This study was carried out to determine the pattern of patient deaths at the accident and emergency unit of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. A review of the cases presenting to the accident and emergency unit with regards to mortality over a one year period is presented. During the period of the study, a total of 2326 patients were seen at the accident and emergency unit and the number of deaths was 70 (3%). Regarding the mortality, the age ranged from 16 to 85years, with a mean age of 47 years. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The leading causes of death were Infective (25.8%), Trauma (21.4%), cerebrovascular events (15.7%), and Diabetic complications (14.3%) amongst others. The majority of infective deaths (65.2%) occurred in those aged 21-50 years, of which 34.5% were Respiratory system related. The peak age of trauma related deaths ranged between 31-40years, mostly following multiple injuries sustained in Road Traffic Accidents. Most deaths (64.3%) occurred within 24 hours of admission. Infections and Trauma were the leading causes of deaths, with most deaths occurring within 24 hours of accident and emergency admission. Multiply injured patients took the lead amongst Trauma patients while Respiratory – related infections were the most amongst infective causes.