scholarly journals MANAGING MASS CASUALTIES IN LIMITED RESOURCE SETTING: A COMPARISON BETWEEN A PERIPHERAL HOSPITAL AND FORWARD TREATMENT CENTER

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1989-92
Author(s):  
Mobeen Ikram ◽  
Saira Mahboob ◽  
Nudrat Zeba

Objective: To share our experience of handling mass casualties at remote locations with an aim to help formulate a policy regarding future training of doctors. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Thal Pakistan, from Jan 2016 to Sep 2018, including three months in Forward Treatment Center in operational areas. Methodology: The injuries due to war trauma were included in our study. Resource management and changes made to accommodate the influx of mass trauma that required damage control surgery were described. Results: A total of 16 casualties from two mass casualty incidents at two medical centers were included in our study. There was no difference in triage class (p=0.96). Splinter injury limbs were most common injury. One patient required damage control surgery done at Combined Miliary Hospital with most requiring hemostasis prior to transport (8 at Combined Military Hospital versus 3 at Forward Treatment center), p=0.346. Conclusion: Most of mass casualties at our hospital were minor injuries requiring immediate first aid. In addition, the damage control resuscitation and surgery done at these remote locations may have helped prevent mortality and morbidity in the more severely injured.

Author(s):  
Sven Märdian ◽  
Fitz Klein ◽  
André Solarek ◽  
Lena Nonnen ◽  
Detlef Cwojdzinski ◽  
...  

Abstract A lack of sterile surgical instrument sets for damage control surgeries of severely injured patients became evident in a series of in-hospital mass casualty trainings in the German capital of Berlin. Moreover, the existing instrument trays contained mostly specialized instruments for elective interventions and were not well composed for the treatment of poly-traumatized patients. After a literature search on the most common injury patterns in Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs), an expert group of surgeons from different disciplines designed an optimized instrument set. A set of 194 instruments was assembled and distributed into two containers. These 2 sets were subjected to a 6-month trial phase in our hospital, and the evaluation of usability was subsequently analyzed through feedback forms administered to the staff. After analysis of the feedback sheets, only minor alterations had to be incorporated. The Berlin Acute Trauma Care Instrument Set (BATMIN) was then made available by the state of Berlin to Berlin Hospitals providing acute trauma care. Out of the need to be prepared for mass casualties, we created an instrument set suitable for the damage control surgery of severely injured patients in individual care and MCIs.


Author(s):  
Carlos A Ordóñez ◽  
Albaro J Nieto ◽  
Javier A Carvajal ◽  
Juan M Burgos ◽  
Adriana Messa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this case series is to describe the experience of implementing damage control resuscitation (DCR) in patients with major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH) between January 2005 and December 2015 in the Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods This is a prospective descriptive study of a case series from 108 patients with MOH who were subjected to DCR. All patients were operated on using a standardized surgical technique in accordance with the institutional protocol. Results The median age was 28 years, with a gestational age of 38 weeks. The principal associated diagnosis was severe preeclampsia (in 39% of cases). A total of 96 patients presented massive postpartum hemorrhage, and 75% of these cases presented after a cesarean section. In all patients, normal control of bleeding was achieved, 60% during the first surgical period. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score was 14, with an overall mortality of 6.48%, far below the expected mortality according to the clinical severity of these patients. Conclusion This study includes the biggest series of pregnant women with MOH, in a critical condition, in whom DCR was used, during which rapid control of bleeding was achieved, associated with a significantly lower mortality than expected. How to cite this article Escobar MF, Carvajal JA, Burgos JM, Messa A, Ordoñez CA, García AF, Granados M, Forero AM, Casallas JD, Thomas LS, Nieto AJ. Damage Control Surgery for the Management of Major Obstetric Hemorrhage: Experience from the Fundación Valle Del Lili, Cali, Colombia. Panam J Trauma Crit Care Emerg Surg 2017;6(1):1-7.


2018 ◽  
pp. S195-S202
Author(s):  
Mark P. DaCambra ◽  
Raymond L. Kao ◽  
Christopher Berger ◽  
Vivian C. McAlister

Background: The Canadian Armed Forces deployed a Role 2 Medical Treatment Facility (R2MTF) to Iraq in November 2016 as part of Operation IMPACT. We compared the multinational interoperability required of this R2MTF with that of similar facilities previously deployed by Canada or other nations. Methods: We reviewed data (Nov. 4, 2016, to Oct. 3, 2017) from the electronic Disease and Injury Surveillance Report and the Daily Medical Situation Report. Clinical activity was stratified by Global Burden of Diseases category, ICD-10 code, mechanism of injury, services used, encounter type, nationality and blood product usage. We reviewed the literature to identify utilization profiles for other MTFs over the last 20 years. Results: In total, 1487 patients were assessed. Of these, 5.0% had battle injuries requiring damage-control resuscitation and/or damage-control surgery, with 55 casualties requiring medical evacuation after stabilization. Trauma and disease non-battle injuries accounted for 44% and 51% of patient encounters, respectively. Other than dental conditions, musculoskeletal disorders accounted for most presentations. Fifty-seven units of fresh frozen plasma and 64 units of packed red blood cells were used, and the walking blood bank was activated 7 times. Mass casualty activations involved coordination of health care and logistical resources from more than 12 countries. In addition to host nation military and civilian casualties, patients from 15 different countries were treated with similar frequency. Conclusion: The experience of the Canadian R2MTF in Iraq demonstrates the importance of multinational interoperability in providing cohesive medical care in coalition surgical facilities. Multinational interoperability derives from a unique relationship between higher medical command collaboration, international training and adherence to common standards for equipment and clinical practice.


2020 ◽  
pp. jramc-2019-001326
Author(s):  
Georges Pfister ◽  
J-C Murison ◽  
A Grosset ◽  
A Duhoux ◽  
E Lapeyre ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe objective was to report on the experience of the French Army Health Service in the management of blast injury of the hands related to warfare explosive devices.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted in the Percy Military Hospital (role 4 medical treatment facility) among French soldiers who presented with a combat-related blast injury of the hand between 2002 and 2018. The functional result was assessed by the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and the Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey (OPUS, upper extremity functional status) scores. Proximal amputations (PAs) and distal amputations (DAs) were distinguished for the analysis.ResultsFifteen patients with a mean age of 31±8 years were included. They totalised 20 blasted hands. There were 16 traumatic amputations: 8 in each of the PA and DA groups. Twelve patients had additional injuries, four of which were polytraumatic. Skin closure time and flap use were higher in the DA group. Only one thumb reconstruction was performed. At a mean follow-up of 6.5±4 years, the number of amputees wearing a prosthesis was higher in the PA group. The mean DASH and OPUS scores were 35.5%±24.0% and 64.0%±19.0%, respectively, with no difference between the two groups.ConclusionThe severity of hand blasts related to warfare explosive devices requires the systematic application of damage control surgery. PAs are frequent and secondary reconstruction options are limited. The functional result is poor and similar between proximal and distal amputees.


2019 ◽  
pp. jramc-2019-001228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieran Campbell ◽  
D N Naumann ◽  
K Remick ◽  
C Wright

IntroductionSpecialist units that assist indigenous forces (IF) in their strategic aims are supported by medical teams providing point of injury emergency care for casualties, including IF and civilians (Civ). We investigated the activities of a Coalition Forces far-forward medical facility, in order to inform medical providers about the facilities and resources required for medical support to IF and Civ during such operations.MethodsA prospective observational study (June to August 2017) undertaken at a far-forward Coalition Forces medical support unit (12 rotating personnel) recorded patient details (IF or Civ), mechanism of injury (MOI), number of blood products used, damage control resuscitation (DCR) and damage control surgery (DCS), number of mass casualty (MASCAL) scenarios, resuscitative thoracotomy, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and whole blood emergency donor panels (EDP).Results680 casualties included 478 IF and 202 Civ (45.5% of the Civ were paediatric). Most common MOIs were blast (n=425; 62.5%) and gunshot wound (n=200; 29.4%). Fifteen (2.2%) casualties died; 627 (92.2%) were transferred to local hospitals. DCR was used for 203 (29.9%), and DCS for 182 (26.8%) casualties. There were 23 MASCAL scenarios, 1220 transfusions and 32 EDPs. REBOA was performed eight times, and thoracotomy was performed 27 times.ConclusionsA small medical team provided high-tempo emergency resuscitative care for hundreds of IF and Civ casualties within a short space of time using state-of-the-art resuscitative modalities. DCR and DCS were undertaken with a large number of EDPs, and a high survival-to-transfer rate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 326-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Walsh ◽  
Chelsie Black ◽  
Joshua Krieger

Abstract With damage control surgery and resuscitation teams, the military is bringing surgical as well as intensive care far forward to areas where mass casualty events are an ever-present threat. One procedure that the team is required to be proficient in is arterial line insertion and transducing. To our knowledge, there are no previously described field arterial line simulation models. We present an arterial line insertion and transducer simulator created using medium resistance Thera-band tubing, saline, Coban, and a SAM splint. Ten deployed members of a damage control surgical team received 30 minutes of instruction on how to properly insert an arterial line and how to set up the transducer equipment. All participants were able to show proficiency in radial artery line insertion and transducer setup despite 8 of the 10 participants having never inserted or setup an arterial line. We describe, to our knowledge, the first arterial line insertion and transducing model utilizing only items found in the deployed environment. This model can be easily made and utilized to train medical personnel of all skill levels to augment the capabilities of medical units in areas where mass casualty events are likely.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Fatema Nurun Nahar ◽  
Jufan Mansur Al ◽  
Shubert Stephan ◽  
Hossain Mir Mahmud

INTRODUCTION Incidence of congenital heart disease is 25 per thousand live birth in Bangladesh which is much higher than other countries. Tetralogy of Fallot, the commonest cyanotic heart disease (5%) and some other complex diseases with right ventricular outflow tract abnormality demand surgical correction and revision in many occasions including percutaneous intervention. As a resource constraint country, it was a difficult task to introduce percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) with MelodyTM. However, it was started on 12th December 2012 in Combined Military Hospital Dhaka, Bangladesh and cases performed till October 2019 were included in this series. METHODS Retrospective analysis of six cases who had PPVI with MelodyTM in Combined Military Hospital, Bangladesh. Patient with dysfunctional conduit between right ventricle (RV) and pulmonary artery causing (a) Symptoms of exceptional dyspnoea of various grade (NYHA II,III, IV) (b) RVEVD >150 ml/m2 ±regurgitant fraction >40% (c) RVOT peak instantaneous gradient > 30 mm Hg. (d) RV dysfunction (RVEF<40%) were accepted for the procedure and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS Mean age was 9.56 ± 2.96 years, weight was 28.75 ± 8.61 kg, height was 137.5 ± 17.52 cm. Mean age at surgery was 4.25 ± 2.72 years. Female were 66.66%. Aortic homograft was used in 66.66% cases. Eighteen mm Ensemble was used in four (66.66%) cases and 20 mm and 22 mm in one each. Immediate result was excellent with no residual PS in two cases and negligible residual flow acceleration across pulmonary valve in four cases. No PR seen in all except one. One patient developed Bacterial endocarditis after 3 years and was treated. CONCLUSION Aim of PPVI is to prolong the life expectancy of conduits which were placed surgically from right ventricle to pulmonary artery. In our case series, we found that Melody valve is functioning well without any complications like infective endocarditis or stent fracture. KEYWORDS PPVI, MelodyTM, RVOT, Outcome


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e240202
Author(s):  
Benjamin McDonald

An 80-year-old woman presented to a regional emergency department with postprandial pain, weight loss and diarrhoea for 2 months and a Computed Tomography (CT) report suggestive of descending colon malignancy. Subsequent investigations revealed the patient to have chronic mesenteric ischaemia (CMI) with associated bowel changes. She developed an acute-on-chronic ischaemia that required emergency transfer, damage control surgery and revascularisation. While the patient survived, this case highlights the importance of considering CMI in elderly patients with vague abdominal symptoms and early intervention to avoid potentially catastrophic outcomes.


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