[Emergency conditions and surgery in Czechoslovakia]

Urgent surgical operations account for cca 28% of all surgical activities in Czechoslovakia. Their lethality is by cca one third higher than in other operations. The period of treatment is, however, shorter, no doubt, because before operation there is not time for complicated examinations. A great proportion of urgent operations is formed by acute abdomen, cca 60%. So far even prolonged efforts did not succeed to achieve earlier hospital admission. The operations are, however, made at an earlier stage and thus the lethality declined. As to age, a great proportion of urgent conditions occur in older children and adolescents, old patients above 65 years and in particular above 75 years. Men are affected more frequently. Interregional comparisons indicate a varied incidence but in particular a varied lethality. It is high specially in Prague and the South Bohemian region although the two regions have a relatively low relation of incidence. In the conclusion the authors emphasize that it is important to make an effort to improve care of urgent patients by health education and by convincing doctors of the importance of the time factor.