Battlefield trauma, traumatic shock and consequences: war-related advances in critical care.
Over the course of history, while the underlying causes for wars have remained few, mechanisms of inflicting injury and our ability to treat the consequent wounds have dramatically changed. Success rates in treating war-related injuries have improved greatly, although the course of progress has not proceeded linearly. From Homer's Iliad to the Civil War to Vietnam, there have been significant improvements in mortality, despite a concurrent increase in the lethality of weapons. These improvements have occurred primarily as a result of progress in three key areas: management of wounds, treatment of shock, and systems of organization.
Allison
Carrie E
CE
Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA. hinkc@ohsu.edu
Trunkey
Donald D
DD
D003422:Critical Care / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D014943:Global Health; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D012774:Shock, Traumatic / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000266:history; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000266:history; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy