Initial deployment of the 14th Parachutist Forward Surgical Team at the beginning of the operation Sangaris in Central African Republic.
As part of the operation Sangaris begun in December 2013 in the Central African Republic, the 14th Parachutist Forward Surgical Team (FST) was deployed to support French troops. The FST (role 2 in the NATO classification) is a mobile surgical-medical treatment facility. The main goal of the FST is to assure the initial damage control surgery and resuscitation for combat casualties, allowing for the early evacuation to combat support hospitals (roles 3 or 4), where further treatments are completed. During the first trimester of the operation Sangaris, 42 patients were treated at FST, of whom 29 underwent surgery. Almost 50% of patients operated on were French servicemen. All admissions were emergency admissions. Orthopedic surgery represented two-thirds of surgical interventions executed as a result of the high proportion of limb injuries. Fifty percent of injuries were specifically linked to combat. Surgery in an FST is primarily dedicated to the treatment of combat casualties with hemorrhagic injuries, but additionally plays a part in supporting general medical care of French troops. Medical aid to the general civilian population is justifiable because of the presence of medical treatment facilities, even in the initial implementation of a military operation.
Department of Digestive Surgery, Val de Grace Military Teaching Hospital, 74 Boulevard de Port Royal, 75005 Paris, France.
Brice
B
Malgras
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Begin Military Hospital, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160 Saint Mandé, France.
Olivier
O
Barbier
Intensive Care Unit, Begin Military Teaching Hospital, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160 Saint Mandé, France.
Pierre
P
Pasquier
Medical Unit of the 8th French Military Parachutist Unit, Avenue Jacques Desplats 81100 Castres, France.
Ludovic
L
Petit
Intensive Care Unit, Laveran Military Teaching Hospital, 34 Boulevard Laveran, 13013 Marseille, France.
Aristide
A
Polycarpe
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, 101 Avenue Henri Barbusse, 92141 Clamart, France.
Sylvain
S
Rigal
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, 101 Avenue Henri Barbusse, 92141 Clamart, France.
Francois
F
Pons
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001359:Aviation; D002488:Central African Republic; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058749:Military Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D000067398:War-Related Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult