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PREVENTABLE CAUSES OF DEATH AND DISABILITY FROM NEUROTRAUMA
Author(s) -
Selecki B. R.,
Berry G.,
Dan N. G.,
Kwok B.,
Mandryk J. A.,
North J. B.,
Ring I. T.,
Sewell M. F.,
Simpson D. A.,
Stening W. A.,
Vanderfield G. K.
Publication year - 1986
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 - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1986.tb07095.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiorespiratory fitness , shock (circulatory) , major trauma , cardiorespiratory arrest , intensive care medicine , medical emergency , surgery , physical therapy
Preventable causes of death and disability have been studied retrospectively in a series of 1161 cases of neurotrauma occurring in New South Wales in 1977–78, and prospectively in 153 cases of neurotrauma occurring in country districts in South Australia in 1981–82. In the first study, it was found that at least 80 deaths could be attributed to preventable causes; chiefly, transfer to an inappropriate hospital and/or delay in instituting treatment. Apparent failures in initial management of shock and airway obstruction were evident in this study and also in the South Australian study, which identified major deficiencies in cardiorespiratory management in 7% of cases transferred from country areas. These studies confirm that there is a need for better training, at all levels, in the management of neurotrauma. They also provide powerful arguments for the concept of an integrated regional trauma service.