Battlefield analgesia: an advanced approach.
We present an advanced battlefield analgesia protocol that is designed to provide the maximum benefit for the greatest number of patients using the minimum of resources. During the development we considered logistics, drug pharmacology and safety, aetiology of the pain and the experience of the expected administrator. Analgesia is only considered after the "ABCD" criteria of the Primary Survey have been satisfied. The analgesics administered range from enteral nonopioids through to intravenous opioids based dynamically upon the Visual Analogue Score (VAS). We suggest this protocol could be used by healthcare workers who may not have been trained in acute pain management but are called to administer analgesia to the serviceman in pain.
Hocking
G
G
Pinderfields and Pontefract General Infirmary, West Yorkshire. drghocking@hotmail.com
De Mello
W F
WF
D000465:Algorithms; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003663:Decision Trees; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid