title: Prospective data, experience, and lessons learned at a surgically augmented brigade medical company (Level II+) during the 2007 Iraq surge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Provide data and experience at a surgically augmented brigade medical support company during the Iraq surge for future deployments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were prospectively aggregated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight thousand and eighty-three patients consisting of 52% coalition military, 19% U.S. military, and 29% U.S. or local civilians were evaluated. Ninety-four percent had disease nonbattle injuries and 4% had battle injuries. Ninety-five percent returned to duty, 2.5% admitted, 2% evacuated, and < 1% died of wounds. Total occupied bed days were 416. Predominate trauma and surgical conditions included burns, explosive injury, extremity trauma, and predominate medical conditions included infections, musculoskeletal injuries, and mental health issues. One hundred and fifty-eight air evacuations were required (80% trauma and 20% medical).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Challenges included lack of mental health providers, cardiac and chronic medications, and exercise electrocardiogram capability. Without physical therapists, experienced nurses, and ancillary medical care, approximately 1500 more air evacuations would have been required, and return-to-duty would have been significantly delayed for approximately 300 patients.
authors: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
authors: Emil
authors: E
authors: Lesho
mesh_terms: D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008887:Military Medicine; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States