Paramedics are more prone to develop PTSD symptoms than general population. This indicates the need for preventive steps to be taken in the professional group of paramedics taking into consideration their coping styles and level of dispositional optimism.
Introduction. Injuries are an extremely important public health problem, in both developed and developing countries. Various traumas contribute to some one third of deaths of the entire human population followed by cardiovascular diseases and cancer only. Understanding the epidemiology of trauma might improve hospitals’ ability to provide proper diagnoses and treatment.
Aim. The aim of this study was to provide epidemiological characteristics of injuries in the analyzed group of patients.
Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of patients admitted in state of emergency and hospitalized in the Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine at the Medical University of Lublin due to injuries that occurred from January 1st 2011 till December 31st 2011 was conducted. Mechanism of injury, mortality rate, age and gender correlations were studied.
Results. Some 485 patients were looked at in the study. The mortality rate reached 4.52% and was highest among males. Falling was the leading cause of injuries among patients
Discussion. The results of this study correspond with the observations of other authors concerning the age distribution. Mortality rates noticed in this study were lower than in other studies.
Conclusions. Trauma in elderly patients is a growing problem in trauma centers. Moreover, in the analyzed material incidence of blunt and non-transport related injuries increased.
Motor organ injuries are one of the most common consequences of trauma, out of which comminuted fractures with a bone loss are the most challenging. Numerous methods are applied to treat these injuries; however, still in many cases we are unable to suggest successful medical treatment. Therefore, treating these injuries using elastic and surgically handleable bone replacement materials was started at Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine of Medical University of Lublin (provided for the experiments by Medical Inventi Lt). Preliminary assessment based on the results of treatment with bone replacement materials of two patients with comminuted fractures of femur was promising. Bone union was achieved without any adverse effects.
In 1980 a third edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) brought diagnostic criteria for a new diagnosis - posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This disorder is a result of highly intensive stressor and in many cases leads to sever psychiatric distress. Despite relatively recent introduction of PTSD as a new diagnosis, this disorder was excessively described in scientific papers as well as in fiction novels. Analysis of those descriptions across ages allows for the conclusion that character and type of stressors has changed, however, people's reactions to highly intensive stressors are basically similar. First descriptions are found in notes of Egyptian physicians and then in papers of Homer, Herodotus and Plutarch. In consecutive parts of this paper, the authors present history of posttraumatic stress disorder describing contribution of Polish authors - Kepiński and Szymusik. Presented historical perspective of posttraumatic stress disorder allows for better understanding of reasons for introducing PTSD into classifications as well as controversies related to it.
Helping people with mental disorders poses a challenge to the members of medical emergency services (EMS). Psychiatric patients are often unpredictable and applying physical coercion is necessary in some cases.
The aim of this paper was to present and comment on legal foundations of application of different forms of physical coercion by EMS members and describe how to fill out medical records required every time physical coercion was used.
According to the amendments of Polish Mental Health Act made in 2010, the EMS members were granted the right to apply physical coercion. Further amendments to the Mental Health Act and the introduction of appropriate Ministry of Health decree define forms of physical coercion, indications to apply physical coercion and include a sample of proper medical records which are required in all cases of application of physical coercion.
Application of physical coercion should always be treated as last-line treatment option while helping patients suffering from mental disturbances. Obeying the law every time a decision regarding physical coercion is made protects patients’ right to receive dignified care and treatment as well as the rights of medical professionals
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