The treatment of multiple injuries: prehospital emergency aid.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate initial (prehospital) assessment and management of high-energy blunt polytrauma patients.


METHODS
Prehospital assessment and management of high-energy blunt polytrauma patients was analyzed. The extent of initial assessment and management was compared with Advanced Trauma Life Support recommendations.


RESULTS
Altogether, 101 (63.05%) of 159 polytrauma patients (mean Injury Severity Score was 28.04) were admitted to Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital by the Emergency Aid Service after motor vehicle traffic accidents. In comparison with Advanced Trauma Life Support recommendations initial assessment (ABCDE) reached 14% and management reached 10.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Initial assessment of high-energy blunt polytrauma patients reached 14% and management reached 10.6% of that recommended by Advanced Trauma Life Support.
Pamerneckas
Algimantas
A
Clinic of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, Kaunas, Lithuania. alpa@kmu.lt
Macas
Andrius
A
Blazgys
Algirdas
A
Pilipavicius
Giedrius
G
Toliusis
Vytautas
V
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012151:Resuscitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*