I Ashkenazi1, F Turégano-Fuentes2, S Einav3, B Kessel4, R Alfici5, O Olsha6. 1. Surgery Department, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, P.O.Box 169, 38100, Hadera, Israel. i_ashkenazi@yahoo.com. 2. Emergency Surgery Department, Gregorio Marañon Medical Center, Madrid, Spain. 3. Intensive Care Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Trauma Unit, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel. 5. Surgery Department, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, P.O.Box 169, 38100, Hadera, Israel. 6. Department of Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The unique patterns of injury following explosions together with the involvement of numerous physicians, most of whom are not experienced in trauma, may create problems in the medical management of mass casualty incidents. METHODS: Four hundred patient files admitted in 19 mass casualty events following bombing incidents were reviewed and possible areas which could impact survival were defined. RESULTS: Forty-nine (9.3 %) patients had an Injury Severity Score ≥16. Of 205 patients in whom triage decisions were available, 5 of 25 severely injured patients were undertriaged by the triage officers at the door of the hospital. Following primary evaluation inside the emergency department critical injuries in two patients were missed due to distracting, less serious injuries. Of 68 (16.1 %) patients who were operated, 28 were in need of either immediate, urgent or high-priority operations. Except for neurosurgical cases which needed to be transferred to other hospitals, there was no delay in surgery. One patient underwent negative laparotomy. There were 15 in-hospital deaths, 6 of which were deemed as either anticipated or unanticipated mortality with possibility for improvement. CONCLUSION: Medical management should be evaluated following MCIs as this may illustrate possible problems which many need to be addressed in contingency planning.
BACKGROUND: The unique patterns of injury following explosions together with the involvement of numerous physicians, most of whom are not experienced in trauma, may create problems in the medical management of mass casualty incidents. METHODS: Four hundred patient files admitted in 19 mass casualty events following bombing incidents were reviewed and possible areas which could impact survival were defined. RESULTS: Forty-nine (9.3 %) patients had an Injury Severity Score ≥16. Of 205 patients in whom triage decisions were available, 5 of 25 severely injured patients were undertriaged by the triage officers at the door of the hospital. Following primary evaluation inside the emergency department critical injuries in two patients were missed due to distracting, less serious injuries. Of 68 (16.1 %) patients who were operated, 28 were in need of either immediate, urgent or high-priority operations. Except for neurosurgical cases which needed to be transferred to other hospitals, there was no delay in surgery. One patient underwent negative laparotomy. There were 15 in-hospital deaths, 6 of which were deemed as either anticipated or unanticipated mortality with possibility for improvement. CONCLUSION: Medical management should be evaluated following MCIs as this may illustrate possible problems which many need to be addressed in contingency planning.
Entities:
Keywords:
Mass casualty incidents; Terror bombings
Authors: Christopher J Aylwin; Thomas C König; Nora W Brennan; Peter J Shirley; Gareth Davies; Michael S Walsh; Karim Brohi Journal: Lancet Date: 2006-12-23 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Sharon Einav; Zvi Feigenberg; Charles Weissman; Daniel Zaichik; Guy Caspi; Doron Kotler; Herbert R Freund Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 12.969