Annals of emergency medicine
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To describe the conventional triage consequences of war zone casualties compared against expected NATO triage casualty estimates; the influence of the Revised Trauma Score on triage sensitivity; and evaluation of physiological parameters considered potentially useful to improved triage specificity and sensitivity. ⋯ Conventional triage is a useful tool for war and conflict; it is experience dependent. Had the anticipated number of casualties actually occurred in this war, we conclude that the triage process would have benefitted from additional information, probably physiologic information, to improve the sensitivity and specificity of our findings.
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To measure emergency care providers' attitudes toward quality of life after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to determine if their perceptions influence the care they provide. ⋯ The quality of life, self-esteem, and outcomes that emergency health care providers imaging after SCI are considerably more negative than those reported by SCI survivors. Because providers' knowledge and attitudes may affect the care they provide and may influence patients and families struggling with critical treatment decisions, emergency care providers must be aware of outcomes, well-being, and life satisfaction following severe SCI.
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The financial realities of the current health care arena make it imperative that deliverers of trauma care initiate programs that reduce the cost of trauma. Triage can be one process that attempts to attain this goal. ⋯ This tiered, in-house response system differs with respect to human and material resources. Personnel, operating room, laboratory work, and protective wear savings account for approximately $1,042 per code patient, yielding an annual $629,404 institutional savings.
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To report the type and frequency of battlefield casualties and the procedures performed to treat them. ⋯ The composite casualty admitted to US Navy-Marine trauma facilities was injured by shrapnel in the lower extremity and required surgical debridement only. Soldiers with land mine injuries, as in other wars, were among those in greatest need of emergency resuscitation.
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To evaluate the public health impact of a hurricane on an inland area. ⋯ Hurricanes can lead to substantial morbidity in an inland area. Disaster plans should address risks associated with stinging insects and hazardous equipment and should address ways to improve case reporting.