AIMS
IN MANAGING THE INJURED PATIENT
| 1 |
Examine,
diagnose and treat life-threatening complications of
trauma as soon as the patient arrives in the hospital. |
| 2 |
Use
the simplest treatment possible to stabilize the patient’s
condition. |
| 3 |
Perform
a complete, thorough examination of the patient to ensure
that no other injuries are missed. |
| 4 |
Constantly
reassess the patient for response to treatment; if the
patient’s condition deteriorates, reassess the
patient. |
| 5 |
Start
definitive treatment only after the patient is stable. |
| 6 |
When
definitive treatment is not available locally, have a
plan for the safe transfer of the patient to another
centre. |
Trauma
deaths
Trauma deaths occur in three time periods.
Immediate deaths
Patients who do not reach the hospital alive die from overwhelming
injuries, including:
| :: |
Rupture
of the heart or pulmonary artery |
| :: |
Overwhelming
haemorrhage |
| :: |
Massive
destruction of brain or other neural tissue. |
Such
deaths can be reduced only by preventive strategies in the
community.
Early deaths
Patients who arrive alive at the hospital need immediate resuscitation
to survive. Many deaths in the early time period are preventable
with appropriate early diagnosis and treatment of severe life-threatening
injuries such as:
| :: |
Pneumothorax |
| :: |
Flail
chest |
| :: |
Abdominal
haemorrhage |
| :: |
Pelvic
and long bone injuries. |
Late
deaths
Late deaths occur as a result of:
| :: |
Infection |
| :: |
Multiple
organ failure. |
Appropriate
initial care can prevent late complications and death.
However long since the injury, trauma care must start immediately
the patient arrives. If you do this, you can save lives and
prevent complications and disability.
|
