Advanced Trauma Life Support

Jae Myung Chung

doi:10.5124/jkma.2007.50.8.680

J Korean Med Assoc > Volume 50(8); 2007 > Article

Chung: Advanced Trauma Life Support

Focused Issue of This Month

Trauma Management in Primary Care

Journal of the Korean Medical Association

Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2007; 50(8): 680-691.

Published online: August 31, 2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2007.50.8.680

Advanced Trauma Life Support

Jae Myung Chung, MD

Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, Korea. jaechung@knu.ac.kr

Abstract

Among the deaths from trauma, 50% were dead at the scene, 30% in several hours, and 20% in a few weeks by multiple organ failure. The 30% occurring in several hours may be saved with rapid assessment and management of injuries. Trauma deaths could be reduced through an organized trauma system and standardized and systemic approach by physicians involved in the initial assessment and management of trauma. This is likely to present emergent and general traumatic care to increase the ability of treating trauma patients on the base of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Thus, both legal and systemic reform with an establishment of trauma centers or use of the ATLS program in intra-hospital trauma team is necessary to maximize operation of the medical team. Introduction of and emphasis on the skill oriented ATLS program in the medical school curriculum is also needed to prepare for real situations rather than knowledge-orientated education.

Keywords: Trauma; Triage; Primary survey; Resuscitation; Secondary survey

References

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Table 1

Indications for Definitive Airway

(Source: Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons. Advanced trauma life support program for doctors. 7th ed. Chicago: American College of Surgeons, 2004: 46.)

Table 2

Estimated fluid and blood losses^* based on patient's initial presentation

(Source: Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons. Advanced trauma life support program for doctors. 7th ed. Chicago: American College of Surgeons, 2004: 74.)

^*: for a 70-kg man

Table 3

Responses to Initial Fluid Resuscitation^*

(Source: Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons. Advanced trauma life support program for doctors. 7th ed. Chicago: American College of Surgeons, 2004: 79.)

^*Adult; 2L Ringer's lactate solution, Children; 20mL/kg Ringer's lactate solution

Table 4

Glasgow Coma Scale

Table 5

Mechanism of Injury and Related Suspected Injury Patterns

(Source: Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons. Advanced trauma life support program for doctors. 7th ed. Chicago:American College of Surgeons, 2004: 22.)

Table 6

Secondary Survey

(Source: Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons. Advanced trauma life support program for doctors. 7th ed. Chicago: American College of Surgeons, 2004: 39-40.)