This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
The physiological variables of oxygen saturation, blood pressure and pulse rate were
compared in the pre-hospital phase and on arrival at hospital in a group of 63 patients
with severe chest injury. Eighty-nine pre-hospital thoracic drainage procedures were
carried out. Pre-hospital Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) was associated with
a significant improvement in all three variables. Median oxygen saturation increased
by 17 per cent (P<0.001), median blood pressure increased from 90 to 120 mmHg (P<0.001)
and median pulse rate decreased from 125 to 105 (P<0.001). Pre-hospital intervention
is indicated for tension pneumothorax, and contraindicated for haemothorax without
respiratory compromise. In other situations further evidence is required, and standard
ATLS protocols should be used until this is available.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to InjuryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Subcommittee on advanced trauma life support.in: 3rd Ed. Advanced Trauma Life Support Program Instructor Manual. America College of Surgeons, Chicago1989
- Emergency thoroctomy for injury.Injury. 1986; 17: 327
- Basic Trauma Life Support: advanced pre-hospital care.1987
- Prehospital care of the patient with an injured chest.Surg Clin N Am. 1989; 69: 21
- ATLS on the ski slopes — a steamboat experience.J Trauma. 1992; 32: 448
- Helicopter Emergency Medical Services — HEMS One.Ann Roy Coll Surg Eng. 1989; 71 (suppl): 60
- The Royal London Hospital Helicopter Emergency Medical Service: first phase 1990.Ann Roy Coll Surg Eng. 1992; 74 (suppl): 130
- A Revision of the Trauma Score.J Trauma. 1989; 29: 623
- The Injury Severity Score: A method for describing patients with multiple injuries and evaluating emergency care.J Trauma. 1974; 14: 187
- Pre-hospital care and Advanced Trauma Life Support Training.Care Crit Ill. 1992; 8: 100
- Head injuries complicated by chest trauma. A review of 50 consecutive patients.Acta Neuroching. 1990; 103: 109
- Vroegtijdige mortaliteit na polytrauma: een retrospectievw studie.Acta Chir Belg. 1988; 88: 375
- Prevention of pneumothorax during mechanical ventilation using chest tubes in patients with blunt thoracic trauma.Acta Chir Belg. 1988; 88: 375
- Pitfalls in the management of penetrating chest trauma.Am J Surg. 1989; 157: 372
- Prehospital trauma cardiac arrest: the cost of futility.J Trauma. 1993; 35: 468
- Complications following blunt and penetrating injuries in 216 victims of chest trauma requiring tube thoracostomy.J Trauma. 1989; 29: 1367
- The risk of percutaneous chest tube thoracostomy.Ann Emerg Med. 1985; 14: 865
- Chest tube thoracostomy.Crit Care Clin. 1992; 8: 879
- On-scene helicopter transport of patients with multiple injuries — comparison of a German and an American system.J Trauma. 1992; 33: 548
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 31,
1995
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
