Trauma
The volume of severe multiple injured patients is small but the trauma team call out system ensures early and complete triage but is demanding of resources.
Abstract
Aim of the study: To provide early appropriate assessment. resuscitation and intervention of patients following trauma with early referral for specialist treatment: to audit patient numbers. clinical performance and resource management together with continuing education of trauma care staff. Materials and methods: Between January 1994 to June 1997 422 patients presented to Accident & Emergency necessitating callout of the defined trauma team (a representative of surgery. orthopaedics and anaesthetics). A more detailed audit involving 55 patients presenting over the latter six months of this audit showed that 46 ( 85 per cent I had a Revised Trauma Score (RTS) of 12. There were four seriously injured patients (RTS<IOJ one of whom died. Most patients presented with blunt trauma (road traffic accidents or falls): there were 3 patients who presented with penetrating injuries. Summary of results: 32 patients (59 per cent) were seen hy the complete trauma team within 5 minutes: all but one were seen within 20 minutes. All these data are submitted to the Major Trauma Outcomes Study (MTOS). Conclusions: The volume of severe multiple injured patients is small but the trauma team call out system ensures early and complete triage but is demanding of resources. Further audit has shown that calls put out between II pm-9am are as safe. relying on triage hy Accident & Emergency staff alone during daytime hours.