Primeras experiencias de niños helitransportados en Uruguay / First experiences of helicopter transportation of children in Uruguay / Primeiras experiências de crianças transportadas de helicóptero no Uruguai

Se presentan los primeros tres pacientes pediátricos helitransportados con traumatismo encéfalo craneano (TEC) grave asistidos en nuestra institución. Se muestra el protocolo de asistencia utilizado en el hospital para la recepción, estabilización y oportuno traslado previa coordinación con sectores públicos y privados de asistencia médica. Se solicita consentimiento informado a los padres para el uso de los datos en actividades científicas y publicaciones.

We present the first three pediatric patients transported by helicopter with severe cranioencephalic trauma assisted at our institution. The assistance protocol used in our Hospital for the reception, stabilization and timely transfer is shown after coordination with public and private health providers. Informed consent was requested from the children's parents for the use of the data in scientific activities and publications.

Apresentamos os três primeiros pacientes pediátricos transportados de helicóptero com traumatismo cranioencefálico grave (TCE) atendidos em nossa instituição. Descrevemos o protocolo de atendimento utilizado em nosso Hospital para o acolhimento, estabilização e transferência oportuna prévia coordenação aos setores público e privado de assistência médica. Solicitamos consentimento informado aos pais para o uso dos dados em atividades e publicações científicas.

Cost and consultation patterns of abdominal pain in Uruguayan children.

BACKGROUND: Children with abdominal pain (AP) have worse quality of life and poorer social functioning and school attendance than their healthy peers. This is the first investigation of consultation patterns and costs of AP in South American children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All data were collected from Unidad Coronaria Movil in Montevideo, Uruguay. Diagnoses of all house calls during a 4-year period (January 2002 through December 2005) were analyzed. Variances in consultation patterns based on sex and age were investigated. Supply and personnel costs were analyzed and prorated to obtain an accurate estimate of the cost per house call and outpatient visit. RESULTS: A total of 125,945 in-home visits and 1588 outpatient consultations were analyzed. Consultation rates for AP peaked among patients 7 to 9 years of age. Female subjects 9 to 14 years of age consulted significantly more frequently for AP than male subjects in the same age group. The average AP consultation accounted for approximately 3.8% of the per capita health care spending in Uruguay in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: AP is a global health problem that is present across ethnicities, nationalities, and geographic locations and is associated with significant health care expenditure.