The mobile army surgical hospital humanitarian assistance mission in Pakistan: the primary care experience.

Military surgical field hospitals are frequently deployed for humanitarian missions. Current Department of Defense doctrine and World Health Organization policy question the appropriateness of their use, because the majority of patients require nonsurgical care. We describe our experiences during the deployment of a mobile army surgical hospital in response to the October 8, 2005, earthquake in Pakistan. More than 20,000 patients received care during a 4-month period. An initially high surgical workload quickly decreased while the volume of primary care patients increased, eventually accounting for 90% of patient visits. Our experience supports deploying primary care-oriented units for humanitarian missions.

Perfil dos pacientes com crise hipertensiva atendidos em uma unidade de pronto atendimento / Perfil de los pacientes con crisis hipertensiva atendidos en una unidad de pronta atención / Profile of patients with hypertensive crisis seen in an emergency care unit

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever o perfil dos pacientes com crise hipertensiva atendidos em uma Unidade de Pronto Atendimento. Método: estudo transversal descritivo, realizado por meio da análise de 80 prontuários de pacientes com quadro de crise hipertensiva, atendidos em uma unidade de pronto atendimento, entre o período de março de 2018 a fevereiro de 2019. Os dados foram coletados por meio de roteiro estruturado e receberam tratamento estatístico descritivo. Resultados: Após a análise dos 80 prontuários, constatou-se que a média de idade entre os pacientes atendidos foi de 58,03, sendo a faixa etária adulta a mais prevalente (53,8%). Constatou-se que a média da pressão arterial sistólica foi significativamente maior em homens em relação às mulheres (p=0,013). Quanto à sintomatologia, a cefaleia foi a mais prevalente, com 35,0%. Verificou-se que durante o atendimento da crise hipertensiva, a maioria dos pacientes fez uso de apenas uma droga para redução da PA, sendo o inibidor adrenérgico de ação central o mais citado. Quanto ao desfecho, grande parte dos pacientes recebeu alta (93,8%) logo após o atendimento, porém, 6,3% permaneceram em internamento de curta permanência até a estabilização do quadro. Considerações finais: Este estudo possibilitou a caracterização da população com crise hipertensiva atendida em um pronto atendimento, a qual evidencia uma possível fragilidade existente entre a articulação dos níveis de atenção à saúde.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir el perfil de los pacientes con crisis hipertensiva atendidos en una Unidad de Pronta Atención. Método: estudio transversal descriptivo, realizado por medio del análisis de 80 registros médicos de pacientes con cuadro de crisis hipertensiva, atendidos en una unidad de pronta atención, entre el período de marzo de 2018 a febrero de 2019. Los datos fueron recogidos por medio de guion estructurado y recibieron tratamiento estadístico descriptivo. Resultados: después del análisis de los 80 registros médicos, se constató que el promedio de edad entre los pacientes atendidos fue de 58,03, siendo la franja etaria adulta la más prevalente (53,8%). Se constató que el promedio de la presión arterial sistólica fue significativamente mayor en hombres que en las mujeres (p=0,013). En cuanto a la sintomatología, la cefalea fue la más prevalente, con 35,0%. Se verificó que, durante la atención de la crisis hipertensiva, la mayoría de los pacientes hizo uso de solo una droga para reducción de la PA, siendo el inhibidor adrenérgico de acción central el más relatado. Respecto al resultado, gran parte de los pacientes recibió el alta (93,8%) inmediatamente después de la atención, sin embargo, el 6,3% permaneció en internamiento de corta estancia hasta la estabilización del cuadro. Consideraciones finales: este estudio posibilitó la caracterización de la población con crisis hipertensiva atendida en una pronta atención, la cual evidencia una posible fragilidad existente entre la articulación de los niveles de atención a la salud.

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the profile of patients with hypertensive crisis treated at an Emergency Care Unit. Method: descriptive cross-sectional study carried out through the analysis of 80 medical records of patients with hypertensive crisis, treated at an emergency care unit, between March 2018 and February 2019. Data were collected using a structured script and were subjected to descriptive statistical treatment. Results: after analyzing the 80 medical records, it was found that the mean age of the treated patients was 58.03, with the adult age group being the most prevalent (53.8%). It was found that the mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in men than in women (p=0.013). As for symptoms, headache was the most prevalent, with 35.0%. It was found that during the treatment of the hypertensive crisis, most patients used only one drug to reduce BP, with centrally acting antiadrenergic drugs being the most cited. Regarding the outcome, most of the patients were discharged (93.8%) soon after treatment; however, 6.3% remained in short-term hospitalization until their condition stabilized. Final considerations: this study made it possible to characterize the population with hypertensive crisis treated in an emergency room, showing a possible fragility in the articulation between health care levell

Burn support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and related operations, 2003 to 2004.

Thermal injury historically constitutes approximately 5% to 20% of conventional warfare casualties. This article reviews medical planning for burn care during war in Iraq and experience with burns during the war at the US Army Burn Center; aboard the USNS Comfort hospital ship; and at Combat Support Hospitals in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Two burn surgeons were deployed to the military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, and to the Gulf Region to assist with triage and patient care. During March 2003 to May 2004, 109 burn casualties from the war have been hospitalized at the US Army Burn Center in San Antonio, Texas, and US Army Burn Flight Teams have moved 51 critically ill burn casualties to the Burn Center. Ten Iraqi burn patients underwent surgery and were hospitalized for up to 1 month aboard the Comfort, including six with massive wounds. Eighty-six burn casualties were hospitalized at the 28th Combat Support Hospital for up to 53 days. This experience highlights the importance of anticipating the burn care needs of both combatants and the local civilian population during war.