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Biomedical subjects

F J Cairns

Publications and source records attributed to F J Cairns.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Deaths from trauma in Auckland: a one year study.

We report a one year prospective study of all deaths from trauma in the Auckland region. Data was collected on the circumstances of death from coroner's, police and hospital records. All cases had autopsies and the injuries were scored using the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) system. The group of 236 had a median age of 27 years and 73% were under the age of 45. Seventy-two percent were male. Blunt trauma, predominantly the result of road crashes, accounted for 89% of the fatalities. Most deaths occurred at the site of injury and only 37% survived to reach hospital. Cases were audited if death occurred without a critical or unsurvivable injury. Thirteen cases were considered to be potentially salvageable if medical treatment had been optimal. The implications for the organisation of prehospital and inhospital trauma care are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1985

Fatal injuries to bicycle riders in Auckland.

Twenty bicycle riders were fatally injured in Auckland between 1974 and 1984. Eighteen were male and nine aged under 15 years. The age distribution of fatalities corresponds closely to the known age distribution of the cycling population. Few differences in pattern of injury were demonstrable between younger (under 15 years) and older riders. Sixteen died of fatal injury to multiple organ systems. Fourteen had fatal injury to brain, including four with no other significant organ injury. Fatal cardiopulmonary trauma was seen in seven riders and fatal abdominal trauma in seven. Cervical and high thoracic fracture dislocation with cord injury were seen in seven riders. Compared to the population base, incidence of fatalities is low, and no recent significant increase is detected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Accidental drownings in Auckland children.

We consider the circumstances surrounding 60 consecutive cases of accidental drowning of children in the Auckland coronial district. More deaths occurred around the home than anywhere else. Forty-one of the fatalities occurred around the home with only two being over the age of six years. The unfenced or inadequately fenced domestic swimming pool was the most common hazard. The household bath and partly filled buckets represent further although less frequent dangers. The study reaffirms the need for legislation making the fencing of domestic swimming pools mandatory. Elsewhere, young children playing in or near water need constant supervision. More victims received either no resuscitation or inadequate resuscitation until an ambulance crew arrived at the home. This further emphasises the value of a sound knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques in the general population.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1984

Deaths from electricity.

This paper reviews the circumstances of 95 fatalities from electrical injuries. Eighty-nine were accidental, four were suicides and two occurred during autoerotic electrical stimulation. Forty-nine of the accidental fatalities occurred at work, Twenty-eight in the home and twelve in the course of outside recreational activities. In many accidents the circumstances were distressingly similar and included: (1) Contact with overhead distribution lines by a length of conductor such as a yacht mast or crane. (2) Faulty wiring or electrical repairs performed by unqualified people. (3) Badly deteriorated cords, plugs and occasionally appliances. (4) Failure to use isolating transformers when indicated. Deaths involving children are a particular cause of concern. Nine fatalites involved children under the age of five years who contacted inadequately protected wires.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1984

Deaths from drowning.

During an eight year period in the Auckland coronial district, 225 persons over the age of fifteen years died from drowning and were subject to autopsy. Of these, 129 males and 21 females drowned because of accidents whilst 31 males and 29 females committed suicide by drowning. There was one homicide and in 14 cases it was unclear as to whether drowning was accidental or suicidal. At least half of the accidents showed analytical evidence of having consumed alcohol and in 37% of these the blood alcohol level was over 100 mg per 100 ml of blood. The activities in which the accidentally drowned were engaged at the time of their deaths are documented and the role of intercurrent illnesses in some drownings illustrated.

Accidents↗
PubMed1983

Deaths from drugs and poisons.

In the eight years from 1975 to 1982, 11 262 ***coronial**autopsies were performed in the School of Medicine, Auckland. Three hundred and ninety-four of the deaths were due to the action of a drug or poison. In this paper we examine the motives and circumstances, age and sex distribution, drugs used and other aspects of these 394 deaths.

Accidents↗
PubMed1983

Inquiry into death.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Coroners and Medical Examiners↗
PubMed1978

Cardiac rupture: 30 consecutive cases from a series of medicolegal autopsies.

Factors underlying spontaneous cardiac rupture were studied in a consecutive series of 30 hearts with ruptured infarcts removed at medicolegal autopsy. Normal and diseased heart muscle and narrowed coronary arteries were examined microscopically. The average age of the 15 women at death was 80 years, and of the 15 men, 73 years. All of the ruptures occurred through a recent transmural left ventricular myocardial infarction which was associated with coronary arteries severely narrowed by atherosclerosis. Nine (33 percent) of the cases showed an occlusive coronary thrombosis. Many of the subjects had no symptoms of recent myocardial ischaemia.

Age Factors↗