Patología otorrinolaringológica ambulatoria en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile durante el a？o 2008: Reporte de 9.157 pacientes

introduction: in primary care the consultations about nouse, ear and pharynx's pathology are very frequent, representing the 40% of the total. aim: describe the outpatient pathology seen at the polyclinic of the clinical hospital of the university of chile in 2008. material and method: retrospective, descriptive study of the otolaryngology polyclinic consultations during the 2008's year. demographic datas, diagnosis and distribution by localization were analyzed. results: 9.157 patients were analized, with a mean age of 34,9 years. 55% was female, and the 62% of the total was in the group between 15 and 64 years. there was a increase of consultations in spring and summer. the 38% was otologic pathology, 27% sinonasal and 10% pharyngeal. it predominated the hearing loss (10%), allergic rhinitis (10%), adenotonsillar pathology (7%), the chronic ear's disease (6%) and rhinosinusitis (5%). discussion: the diagnoses and their frequencies founded in our center are consistent with international literature. conclusions: the knowledge about the most common diseases and age distribution allows to organize more effectively the attentions and resources of our service.