Advanced Trauma Life Support

ABSTRACT

Among the deaths from trauma, 50% were dead at the scene, 30% in several hours, and 20% in a few weeks by multiple organ failure. The 30% occurring in several hours may be saved with rapid assessment and management of injuries. Trauma deaths could be reduced through an organized trauma system and standardized and systemic approach by physicians involved in the initial assessment and management of trauma. This is likely to present emergent and general traumatic care to increase the ability of treating trauma patients on the base of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Thus, both legal and systemic reform with an establishment of trauma centers or use of the ATLS program in intra-hospital trauma team is necessary to maximize operation of the medical team. Introduction of and emphasis on the skill oriented ATLS program in the medical school curriculum is also needed to prepare for real situations rather than knowledge-orientated education.