BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to define the factors that affected the final outcome of trauma patients in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. METHODS: Medical records of patients admitted to 95 hospitals within or surrounding the affected area during the first 15 days after the quake were reviewed. RESULTS: There were 2,702 traumatized patients. One-third of the patients were transported to hospitals in the surrounding area and had a mortality rate of 3%. The remainder, who were treated in the affected hospitals, showed a significantly higher mortality rate (8%; p < 0.05). Intensive care was provided for 513 patients, most of whom suffered from crush syndrome or from injuries to vital organs; these patients had a high mortality rate. Patients with other types of injuries had a lower mortality rate. CONCLUSION: Crush syndrome and injuries to vital organs were potentially life-threatening. We believe that early transportation of such patients to undamaged hospitals with the ability to provide intensive care would have improved the survival rate.
BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to define the factors that affected the final outcome of traumapatients in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. METHODS: Medical records of patients admitted to 95 hospitals within or surrounding the affected area during the first 15 days after the quake were reviewed. RESULTS: There were 2,702 traumatized patients. One-third of the patients were transported to hospitals in the surrounding area and had a mortality rate of 3%. The remainder, who were treated in the affected hospitals, showed a significantly higher mortality rate (8%; p < 0.05). Intensive care was provided for 513 patients, most of whom suffered from crush syndrome or from injuries to vital organs; these patients had a high mortality rate. Patients with other types of injuries had a lower mortality rate. CONCLUSION:Crush syndrome and injuries to vital organs were potentially life-threatening. We believe that early transportation of such patients to undamaged hospitals with the ability to provide intensive care would have improved the survival rate.
Authors: Savas Guner; Sukriye Ilkay Guner; Yasemin Isik; Gokay Gormeli; Ali Murat Kalender; Ugur Turktas; Mehmet Ata Gokalp; Abdurrahim Gozen; Mustafa Isik; Sezai Ozkan; Tulin Turkozu; Sevdegul Karadas; Mehmet Fethi Ceylan; Levent Ediz; Mehmet Bulut; Yusuf Gunes; Ayse Gormeli; Cemil Erturk; Metehan Eseoglu; Recep Dursun Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2012-12-12 Impact factor: 3.075
Authors: A Sousa; J A Paiva; S Fonseca; F Raposo; L Valente; D Vyas; O Ribeiro; R Pinto Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2012-10-25 Impact factor: 3.693