Experience of first deployed otolaryngology team in Operation Iraqi Freedom: the changing face of combat injuries.
OBJECTIVE
In September, 2004, an Air Force otolaryngology team was deployed to Iraq as a member of the multispecialty head and neck team, which had historically consisted of neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and oral surgery. We examined our operative and outpatient experience to determine if otolaryngology would be a critical component of this new head and neck team.


METHODS
Between September 7, 2004, and January 22, 2005, we collected data on all otolaryngology operative procedures and outpatient visits at the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty-nine patients underwent 257 operative procedures with the 3 most common procedures being complex facial laceration repair, tracheostomy, and neck exploration for penetrating neck trauma. In the otolaryngology clinic, we examined and treated 529 patients from throughout the Middle East.


CONCLUSIONS
The otolaryngology team proved to be a critical component of the Air Force multispecialty head and neck team.


METHODS
C-4.
Brennan
Joseph
J
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236, USA. Joseph.Brennan@lackland.af.mil
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare