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Aim: Consultation of a pulmonologist is requested from almost all clinical specialties about diagnosis or treatment of any pathology involving respiratory system, preoperative respiratory system evaluation or postoperative pulmonary problems. The aim of our study is to determine the burden and characteristics of pulmonology consultations in a state hospital. Material and Method: In this study, pulmonology consultation reports of clinics excluding emergency department was evaluated retrospectively, and characteristics of patients, diagnostic utilities and results of consultations were presented with associated literature knowledge. Results: 110 patients (51 female, 59 male) with medium age of 64 +/- 17 were consulted to pulmonology department in three months. Most of the consultation requests were from intensive care unit (% 16.3, n=18), followed by neurology (n=16, % 14.5) and general surgery (n=16, % 14.5) departments. Major reason for pulmonology consultation requests were the presence of respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, wheezing, sputum, n=68, % 61). COPD was diagnosed in 43 (% 39) patients, and normal respiratory system findings were observed in 23 (% 20.9) patients. Discussion: With this study, we wanted to draw attention to extend of pulmonology consultation requests even with exclusion of emergency department consultations and the timing of the study period covering three months of summer. Also, we aimed to emphasize the utility of online data record system facilitating retrospective analysis. |
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