[Major emergency management in ship collusion].
OBJECTIVE
To prove that a correct management of a major emergency allowed a quick triage, trauma team, appropriate treatment, discharge and treatment of many patients injured patients when, in January 2007, a crush between a merchant ship and an hydrofoil happened in the Messina strait, that separate Sicily and Calabria.


METHODS
Four deaths and 105 injuries were observed. Our experience in the emergency care refers to 25 patients of them. All patients were investigated with routine blood tests, imaging techniques and classified according to AIS and ISS. Their classification in colour code was green for 14 of them (7 Males, 7 Females); yellow for 9 (5M, 4F) and red for 2, both males.


RESULTS
Of the 105 injured patients, twenty five patients were referred to our Accident and Emergency Department. Ten were affected by cranial trauma, 6 by spinal injuries, 5 by thoracic injuries, 3 had bone fractures and 1 patient with severe wounds. Among all patients, 18 had an ISS <15; 7 had an ISS of 28 (range 17-45). Mean emergency room stay, discharge and transport of patients to wards was 103 minutes. Twelve patients were admitted to the hospital; 9 refused hospitalization, 4 were discharged.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty six ship-collisions occurred in the Messina Strait between 1950 and 2007, were documented 10 deaths, and other four death of Segesta Jet accident. The approach to Major Emergency was carried out in according to ATLS and P.E.I.M.A.F. This allowed specific and efficacious investigations.
Mazzei
Sergio
S
U.O.C. di M.C.A.U. con O.B, Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina.
Famà
Fausto
F
Vindigni
Angelo
A
Villari
Santa Alessandra
SA
Gioffrè Florio
Maria Antonietta
MA
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D012767:Ships; D012802:Sicily; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*