BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care (IATSIC)/World Health Organization (WHO)'s Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care (EsTC Guidelines) in providing an internationally applicable and standardized template to assess trauma care capabilities in the South American Region. METHODS: Field assessment was conducted in seven provinces (urban and rural, pop. 2,239,509) and 24 facilities (5 large hospitals (LH); 15 small hospitals (SH); 4 basic hospitals (BH)) in Ecuador using EsTC criteria. A total of 260 individual items in Human Resources (HR- availability, clinical knowledge, skills) and physical resources (PR) were evaluated via inspection, review of local statistics, and administrative and staff interviews. EsTC was evaluated on a scale as follows: 0 (absent); 1(inadequate; < 50%); 2 (partly adequate > 50%); 3 (adequate-100%). RESULTS: 210,045 Emergency Department (ED) visits and 61,365 (29%) ED trauma visits were recorded (incidence rate 2,740/100,000 population). Deficits were noted in prehospital trauma care (inadequate coordination, communication), education and training (ATLS < 30%, TNCC 0%), facility based trauma care (poor physical resources [PR] and human resources [HR]), and quality assurance (1/27 hospitals). CONCLUSIONS: The IATSIC/WHO EsTC Guidelines provide a simple and useful template to assess trauma care capability in variable facilities and international settings, and they could serve as a valuable tool for trauma system development. Endorsement of EsTC Guidelines by the Panamerican Health Organization and lead trauma societies (the Panamerican Trauma Society) should be considered.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care (IATSIC)/World Health Organization (WHO)'s Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care (EsTC Guidelines) in providing an internationally applicable and standardized template to assess trauma care capabilities in the South American Region. METHODS: Field assessment was conducted in seven provinces (urban and rural, pop. 2,239,509) and 24 facilities (5 large hospitals (LH); 15 small hospitals (SH); 4 basic hospitals (BH)) in Ecuador using EsTC criteria. A total of 260 individual items in Human Resources (HR- availability, clinical knowledge, skills) and physical resources (PR) were evaluated via inspection, review of local statistics, and administrative and staff interviews. EsTC was evaluated on a scale as follows: 0 (absent); 1(inadequate; < 50%); 2 (partly adequate > 50%); 3 (adequate-100%). RESULTS: 210,045 Emergency Department (ED) visits and 61,365 (29%) ED trauma visits were recorded (incidence rate 2,740/100,000 population). Deficits were noted in prehospital trauma care (inadequate coordination, communication), education and training (ATLS < 30%, TNCC 0%), facility based trauma care (poor physical resources [PR] and human resources [HR]), and quality assurance (1/27 hospitals). CONCLUSIONS: The IATSIC/WHO EsTC Guidelines provide a simple and useful template to assess trauma care capability in variable facilities and international settings, and they could serve as a valuable tool for trauma system development. Endorsement of EsTC Guidelines by the Panamerican Health Organization and lead trauma societies (the Panamerican Trauma Society) should be considered.
Authors: Doris Sarmiento Altamirano; Amber Himmler; Oscar Chango Sigüenza; Raúl Pino Andrade; Nube Flores Lazo; Jeovanni Reinoso Naranjo; Hernán Sacoto Aguilar; Lenin Fernández de Córdova; Edgar Rodas; Juan Carlos Puyana; Juan Carlos Salamea Molina Journal: World J Surg Date: 2020-06 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Anu Ramachandran; Anju Ranjit; Cheryl K Zogg; Juan P Herrera-Escobar; Jessica R Appelson; Luis F Pino; Michel B Aboutanous; Adil H Haider; Carlos A Ordonez Journal: World J Surg Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: John Whitaker; Nollaig O'Donohoe; Max Denning; Dan Poenaru; Elena Guadagno; Andrew J M Leather; Justine I Davies Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2021-05
Authors: S Ariane Christie; Benedict C Nwomeh; Sanjay Krishnaswami; George P Yang; Ai-Xuan L Holterman; Anthony Charles; Sudha Jayaraman; Randeep S Jawa; Jennifer Rickard; Mamta Swaroop; Sifri C Ziad; Georges Alain Etoundi Mballa; Martin Ekeke Monono; Alain Chichom Mefire; Catherine Juillard Journal: World J Surg Date: 2019-03 Impact factor: 3.352