Principle of multi-echelon medical care for the injured in Chinese Wenchuan earthquake / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the application value and improvement of principle of multi-echelon medical care in emergent rescue of the injured in Chinese Wenchuau earthquake. Methods The author analyzed and evaluated the medical rescue that was done at disaster site, in the front line hospital and higher level hospitals during earthquake. Results A total of 4 689 patients were treated at disaster site, including 413 patients with severe injury, of whom 3 died. Different kinds of operations including debridement were performed at disaster site, with infection incidence of open wound was nearly 80%. In the front hne hospital, 1 400 patients were treated, with 200 operations done. Of all, 110 patients with severe trauma were treated emergenfly, with an amputation rate of 3.0% and postoperative infection incidence of 66.8%. In the station hospitals, 125 patients received definite surgeries, with 1-5 surgeries per injury site. There was no postoperative cross infection, amputation or death. Conclusions The multi-echelon medical care is the basic mode for medical rescue of large number of patients in natural disaster rescue. First aid at disaster site should be performed as early as possible. Transportation is crucial for successful rescue and an improved patient grading system can help increase the efficiency of rescue. The front line hospitals should mainly provide life support, debridement and fixation of simple fracture, while the specific treatment and definite surgery should be carried out in the station hospitals.