Pattern of patients attending in the casualty department of a tertiary health care hospital in western Maharashtra

Background: Casualty department is one of the most sensitive areas of health care system. This sensitivity is based on various factors including urgent health care, crowding and external interference. The objective of this study was to know the pattern of cases attending casualty department of a tertiary health care hospital. Methods: A retrospective record based cross-sectional study of all cases registered at the casualty department of a tertiary health care hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 was carried out. Data of the patients was collected from the registers of casualty and medical record department. It was entered in Microsoft excel and analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied. Results: Total 74916 patients attended casualty department during the study period of two years. The ratio of medical to surgical patients was 1.04:1. Total 33279 (44.42%) medico legal cases and 6858 (09.15%) patients of acute respiratory infection were registered in the casualty. 9339 (11.83%) tetanus toxoid and 3728 (04.72%) anti-rabies vaccine doses were given to the beneficiaries. 18148 (24.22%) trauma and 1051 (01.40%) brought dead cases were managed during the study period. 586 (00.78%) patients absconded and 3536 (04.72%) patients left against medical advice from the casualty during the study period. Conclusions: Acute respiratory infection, poisoning, trauma, brought dead, discharge on request, left against medical advice, abscond, post mortem examination, emergency death, etc are some of the common emergencies reported in the casualty department. To tackle such cases promptly needs round the clock trained and enough health care workers as well as material resources in the casualty.