Resultados del tratamiento de 588 pacientes con trauma múltiple / Treatment results in 588 patients with multiple trauma

RESUMEN

Background: Ten to fifteen million wounded and 700,000 deaths each year, around the world, are the consequences of accidents, according to the World Health Organization. In Chile 2,269 deaths occur each year due to accidents. The successful treatment of these patients requires a schematized initial management, that is taught in the Advanced Trauma Life Support Courses. Aim: To review the results of trauma treatment using this model at Hospital del Trabajador in Santiago. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of patients with trauma treated between 1984 and 1994. The severity of trauma was classified according to the Injury Severity Score. Results: Five hundred eighty eight patients (60 female) aged 35.4ñ14 years old were treated in the period. Vehicular accidents accounted for 62 percent of trauma. The most frequently injured corporal segments were limbs and pelvis in 79 percent, head and neck in 66 percent and thorax in 44 percent. There were 2.45 lesions per patient. Mortality was 8 percent and, among survivors, 79 percent had a complete recovery and were reintegrated to their usual activities. Fifteen percent of patients were severely injured. Among these, mortality was 28 percent and 43 percent of survivors had some sequel. Head injuries had a predominant role in mortality and post traumatic disabilities. Conclusions: These results confirm the efficacy of Advanced Trauma Life Support system in the treatment of patients with multiple trauma