Medical aspects of the mass-scale civilian casualties at Sarajevo Markale market on August 28, 1995: triage, resuscitation, and treatment.

ABSTRACT

The siege of Sarajevo, which holds an important but tragic position in the history of war, lasted for more than 45 months, from April 6, 1992 to March 19, 1996. Shelling of the Markale city market on August 28, 1995, was the attack with the largest number of civilian casualties. There were 23 persons killed on the spot. Another 104 were injured, of whom 15 died immediately after the explosion or during surgery, and 4 died a week later. Transport to the hospital was provided mostly by other civilians and resuscitation on the spot was not attempted. The triage of the wounded was conducted at the Kosevo University Hospital Center and State Hospital by teams of surgeons and anesthesiologists. Out of 104 wounded, 94 were treated at several different Surgery Departments and the Emergency Department. There were 85 survivors among the wounded. This incident once again illustrates the importance of timely adequate triage and resuscitation after mass-scale injuring, which can increase the chances of survival.