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AN EVALUATION OF TRAUMA TEAM RESPONSE IN A MAJOR TRAUMA HOSPITAL IN 100 PATIENTS WITH PREDOMINANTLY MINOR INJURIES
Author(s) -
Lu Wen Hao,
Kolkman Karel,
Seger Maria,
Sugrue Michael
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1622.2000.01820.x
Subject(s) - medicine , major trauma , intubation , prospective cohort study , injury severity score , trauma care , emergency medicine , anesthesia , surgery , poison control , injury prevention
Background : A prospective study of trauma team response and performance at a major trauma service was undertaken between June and September 1998. Methods : Following activation of the trauma team, the timing of the trauma team’s arrival, the subsequent early management of the patient, time to monitoring, X‐ray investigation and procedures performed were documented. Results : The study evaluated 100 activations, 76% male, mean age 32 years and 65% were due to road trauma. The team leader, airway doctor and surgical registrar were present on patient arrival in 96%, 90% and 76% of cases, respectively. The airway, procedure and scribe nurses were present on patient arrival in 77%, 97% and 95% of cases, respectively. The radiographer was present in 69% of cases. Comparison between normal and after‐hour response revealed little difference in medical and radiographer response, but the after‐hour nurse response was significantly worse ( P < 0.001). The median time to achieve electrocardiogram monitoring, blood pressure reading, and oxygen saturation tracing was 3 (range: 1–13), 4 (range: 2–20) and 3 (range: 1–21) min, respectively. Intravenous cannulation, phlebotomy and dispatch of bloods occurred at median times of 5 (range: 2–22), 6 (range: 3–23) and 17 (range: 7–40) min. The median times for intubation, chest tube and splintage of fracture were 10 (range: 3–19), 10 (range: 6–14) and 26 (range: 19–55) min, respectively. Conclusions : The present study identified an excellent multidisciplinary trauma response and provides a template to improve performance in early trauma management.