Ming-Huei Cheng1,2, Alexandra L Mathews1,2, Shiow-Shuh Chuang1,2, Meghan E Lark1,2, Yen-Chang Hsiao1,2, Chip-Jin Ng1,2, Kevin C Chung1,2. 1. Linkou, Taiwan; and Ann Arbor, Mich. 2. From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Center for Tissue Engineering, and the Emergency Department, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University; and the Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This article reports the emergency management of a mass casualty disaster occurring on June 27, 2015, in New Taipei, Taiwan, as a fire erupted over a large crowd, injuring 499 people. Lessons learned in burn care treatment and disaster preparedness are analyzed through following the specific surgical response and patient outcomes of one hospital involved in the disaster response. METHODS: Information regarding the fire and emergency management was obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. Patient-specific data were obtained from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's patient records. RESULTS: A mass casualty management system was immediately initiated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which contacted local hospitals to prepare for the influx of patients with severe burn injuries. In response, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital called 336 medical personnel to the emergency room for the management of 49 burn patients and divided emergency management roles among chief physicians. The mean burn total body surface area of patients presenting to this hospital was 44.2 percent (range, 10 to 90 percent). No deaths occurred in the first 48 hours after the explosion. As of 3 months after the incident, only 12 deaths had resulted from this accident, all resulting from sepsis and organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Taiwan's effective mass casualty preparation plans, highly trained medical personnel, and large centers capable of treating burn patients allowed 499 injured patients to be successfully transferred and treated in hospitals across Taiwan. Lessons learned from this disaster response can be integrated into existing disaster management plans to aid in the response to mass casualty tragedies. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
BACKGROUND: This article reports the emergency management of a mass casualty disaster occurring on June 27, 2015, in New Taipei, Taiwan, as a fire erupted over a large crowd, injuring 499 people. Lessons learned in burn care treatment and disaster preparedness are analyzed through following the specific surgical response and patient outcomes of one hospital involved in the disaster response. METHODS: Information regarding the fire and emergency management was obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. Patient-specific data were obtained from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's patient records. RESULTS: A mass casualty management system was immediately initiated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which contacted local hospitals to prepare for the influx of patients with severe burn injuries. In response, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital called 336 medical personnel to the emergency room for the management of 49 burn patients and divided emergency management roles among chief physicians. The mean burn total body surface area of patients presenting to this hospital was 44.2 percent (range, 10 to 90 percent). No deaths occurred in the first 48 hours after the explosion. As of 3 months after the incident, only 12 deaths had resulted from this accident, all resulting from sepsis and organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Taiwan's effective mass casualty preparation plans, highly trained medical personnel, and large centers capable of treating burn patients allowed 499 injured patients to be successfully transferred and treated in hospitals across Taiwan. Lessons learned from this disaster response can be integrated into existing disaster management plans to aid in the response to mass casualty tragedies. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Authors: Alexandra L Mathews; Ming-Huei Cheng; John-Michael Muller; Miffy Chia-Yu Lin; Kate W C Chang; Kevin C Chung Journal: Injury Date: 2016-08-16 Impact factor: 2.586