title: Laparoscopic surgery in a mobile army surgical hospital deployed to the former Yugoslavia.
abstract: The 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital was deployed from a United States military base in Germany to the former Yugoslavia to provide medical support for more than 25,000 United Nations soldiers. This medical unit was the first mobile hospital ever to deploy with a capability for laparoscopic surgery. During a 2-month trial period, seven laparoscopic procedures were performed for various abdominal emergencies. There were no complications, and all patients returned to full duty within 1 week. No equipment problems or other logistical obstacles were identified. This preliminary report suggests that laparoscopic surgery is quite feasible in a forward-deployed field hospital, allowing combat soldiers to return to full duty in a much shorter time than after conventional surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, 212th MASH, Pleso Air Field, Croatia.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Tylka
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Crabtree
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drost
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Newcomb
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery; D020679:Arthroscopes; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000601:surgery; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014480:United Nations; D014481:United States; D015022:Yugoslavia