title: [Spectrum of surgical procedures performed in German rescue centers and the field hospital in Afghanistan in 2008].
abstract: From the military perspective detailed knowledge about the spectrum of operations undertaken abroad is of particular interest to provide indications of the skills that will be required by the surgeons. Therefore, all surgical reports produced in 2008 in the operation theatres of Mazar-e-Sharif, Feyzabad and Kunduz were reviewed. The overview shows that a total of 799 operations were performed equivalent to 0.4-1.6 operations/day. Most of the patients who underwent surgery were local civilians and most of these operations involved osteosynthesis, débridement and soft tissue procedures. Of the surgical procedures 11% involved patients who were German service personnel of which 85% were urgent or emergency procedures and 25% of these involved treatment of combat injuries. When civilian patients with life-threatening injuries or diseases are referred to the medical facilities there is little opportunity to make decisions with regard to acceptance. Often it may be necessary for surgeons to perform procedures which are outside their field of specialization. In order to ensure a favorable outcome in acute situations surgeons mainly required skills in emergency surgery of the body cavities (visceral and thoracic surgery).
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Thoraxchirurgie, Bundeswehrzentralkrankenhaus Koblenz, Koblenz, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Güsgen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Achatz
authors.forename: H-G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kollig
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lieber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*