METHODS: This is a retrospective study of otolaryngology cases performed over a 28-month period (1/2016-4/2018) at a hospital in rural Cameroon. Case details were collated and categorized as a surrogate measure of otolaryngologic disease in resource-limited settings. A case-levelling schema based on temporal urgency and anticipated impact on health was proposed and applied.
RESULTS: 1277 cases took place during the study. The largest proportion of cases were head and neck (517, 40%), followed by pediatrics (316, 25%). A four-tiered leveling system was generated: level 1 cases were immediately life-saving; level 2 cases were expected to result in a significant return to functions of daily living, or would prevent future death from cancer; level 3 cases aimed to significantly improve quality of life; level 4 cases were purely elective. Upon application of the schema, most cases were deemed to be level 2 (661, 52%).
CONCLUSIONS: We use our experience in a resource-limited setting to generate and apply a novel schema to be used for otolaryngology case triage in services facing unprecedented states of emergency such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This is the first study describing the surgical otolaryngologic disease burden in a resource-limited setting, data which may be used for future resource allocation.
METHODS: 4.
方法:这是一项在喀麦隆农村的一家医院进行的为期28个月(1/2016-4/2018)的耳鼻喉科病例的回顾性研究。在资源有限的环境中,对病例详细信息进行了整理并分类为耳鼻喉疾病的替代措施。提出并应用了一种基于时间紧迫性和对健康的预期影响的病例均衡方案。
结果:研究期间发生了1277例病例。头颈部占比最大(517,40%),其次是儿科(316,25%)。生成了四级调平系统:1级病例立即挽救生命;预计2级病例将导致日常生活功能的重大恢复,或将防止未来因癌症死亡;3级病例旨在显着改善生活质量;4级病例纯粹是选择性的。在应用模式时,大多数病例被认为是2级(661例,52%)。
结论:我们利用我们在资源有限的环境中的经验来生成并应用一种新颖的模式,用于面临前所未有的紧急情况(如SARS-CoV-2大流行)的服务中的耳鼻喉科病例分类。这是第一个描述在资源有限的情况下耳鼻喉外科疾病负担的研究,可用于未来资源分配的数据。
方法:4.