• Ger D J van Olden, J Dik Meeuwis, Hugo W Bolhuis, Han Boxma, and R Jan A Goris.
• Department of General Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
• J Trauma. 2004 Aug 1; 57 (2): 381-4.

BackgroundThe introduction of the ATLS course in The Netherlands in 1995 provided for an opportunity to compare data of trauma patients between a pre-ATLS and a post-ATLS period.Materials And MethodsOver a 3-year period (May 1996 - September 1997 pre ATLS; December 1997-April 1999 post ATLS) 63 trauma patients with an AIS-ISS > or = 16 (n = 31, pre-ATLS and n = 32, post-ATLS) were prospectively studied in two community residency training (ACS Level III) hospitals. All diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were recorded by a video-camera and evaluated by a neutral faculty of six experienced ATLS trained specialists.ResultsTen out of 14 interventions were performed qualitatively better in the post-ATLS group, while also the overall score was highly significantly better (4.2 pre-ATLS and 5.8 post-ATLS, p < 0.0001).ConclusionUsing the opinion of an expert team, this study identified a significantly lower number of patients with inadequate management.

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