Objective To explore the influence of two emergency reception and triages workflows between Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes on the victim’s length of stay in emergency department of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Methods A total of 65 victims admitted in the West China Hospital within 12 hours after Lushan earthquake were retrospectively analyzed, and their diagnosis and treatment information and the length of stay in emergency department were collected and compared with those of the victims in Wenchuan earthquake. Then we analyzed the influence of two emergency reception and triage workflows on the length of stay of the batches of earthquake victims. Results For the Lushan earthquake victims, the median length of stay in the emergency reception and triage workflow was 0.51 hour, while that was 2.13 hours for the Wenchuan earthquake victims, with a significant difference (Plt;0.05). Conclusion The emergency reception and triage workflow for Lushan earthquake victims is a summarized experience and improvement based on that for Wenchuan earthquake, which can be used as references for treating batches of victims in the emergency department after a disaster.
During the medical rescue after the Wenchuan earthquake, in order to prevent hospital environmental pollution and cross infection, the nosocomial infection control committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University immediately initiated the emergency response plan, improved the triage system, and organized multi-disciplinary infection control groups to improve the triage of the wounded and the infection control of the emergency department. At the same time, we regulated the individual behavior of healthcare professionals and took appropriate measures for personnel protection so as to ensure the safety of both the wounded and healthcare professionals.
Objective To analyze the outcome of patients with abdominal injury (AI) in the Chengdu Army General Hospital within 48 hours after the Wenchuan earthquake, in order to provide evidence for future improvement in emergency response after earthquakes and in the treatment of AI patients. Methods Data on the AI patients within 48 hours after the earthquake were collected from the Information Department of the Hospital. Microsoft EXCEL was used for data input. Results A total of 33 AI inpatients were treated which was 3.1% of the total inpatients. The AI inpatients suffered severe and complex injuries, and one of them died (mortality rate: 3%). Conclusion As a second-line Grade-A hospital,prompt triage is very important to patients who were rescued 48 hours after the earthquake. Reasonable damage control surgery and remedies prepared by medical staff from different specialties after the operations may decrease mortality rate.
Objective To find effective ways for controlling the hospital infection to the skeptical gas gangrene patients. Method From May 14th to June 24th, the hospital set up triage spots originally and dealt with the wounded based on their specific conditions in different stages and optimized the flow of admission of the wounded. Owing to correctly treating the wound and screening the skeptical gas gangrene patients, preventing nosocomial infections was shifted forward. Sprending the gas gangrene wound after having flushed it with 3% H2O2. If the wound have been stitched, the stitches should bee taken out, and open the wound and take the debridement for it completely, then treat it with b antibacterial after debridement by sterilization and isolation about operation of gas gangrene. Result Up to June 24th, none of 67 cases of doubtful gas gangrene from the disaster area died and no hospital cross infections happened in courtyard. At present, amomg the 67 cases, 32 were highly suspected of gas gangrene infection, 26 cases were discharged, while 6 cases were undergoing treatment in the hospital. Conclusion Correct management and appropriate treatment are effective ways for controlling hospital cross infection to the skeptical gas gangrene patients.
Objective According to characteristics of the wounded, we discussed the key points of Triage Algorithm during the large scale disasters occurring. It will provide some suggestion for establ ishment the triage process, matching with reasonable medical resources on time and making medical care promotion. Method Analysis the data of patients sent to emergency department of West China Hospital in different periods after temblor, and make conclusion on alternation of the triage process. Result A total of 2621 wounded people have been treated in West China Hospital three weeks after earthquake. The severity of patients in a seimic disaster sent to hospital changed as time went on. The percentage of skin and soft tissue injuries and l imbs fractures is 45%. The percentage of crush injury is 4.3%. There are five cases of gas gangrene and none of hospital cross-infection. Conclusion Triage the victims after earthquake dynamically increases the survival rate and decreases the mortal ity and overtriage rate, the key process of triage systems should be modified dynamically with characters alternation of the victims after China Wenchuan earthquake, the rescue level and effect can be made progress.
Objective To investigate the mass casualty triage system and its application, to provide evidence and advice for its future standardized use. Method Based on the principles and methods of systematic reviews, we searched MEDLINE (1950 to 2008), The Cochrane library (Issue 2, 2008) and CBM (from establishment to May 2008) to identify papers written in English of Chinese which described mass casualty triage systems or triage systems specific to the aftermath of earthquakes. We extracted information on name, grades, criteria, main characteristics and application of each triage system from the papers involving mass casualty triage systems. We also extracted information on setting, personnel performing the triage, grades, and characteristics from those papers describing any specific triage system for earthquake. We compared the colour of tags, codes and other materials used in different triage systems. Result We included 38 English and 6 Chinese papers. For mass casualty triage systems, we identified 7 primary triage methods with 4 grades.Three of these had relevant application reports. There were 6 secondary triage methods with 3-5 grades, and none had relevant application reports. Four tag methods were identified. Seven papers, 2 of which were published in China, reported specific secondary triage methods for earthquakes. Conclusion Based on the current evidence, there is no universally accepted mass casualty triage system with documented reliability and validity. No triage system has been developed specifically for the wounded in earthquakes. There are large differences between the triage methods for earthquake and other mass casualty incidents. Future research should focus on the development of a reliable and valid mass casualty triage system, aimed at maximizing the capacity for medical rescue.
Objective To discuss the mode of triage patient in Emergency Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University after the Wenchuan earthquake and the major experience during the process. Method The patients’ severity level of injury and waiting time for medical care in Emergency Department were analyzed after earthquake in 2 weeks. Result 375 patients were triaged into the severity level and get the treatment followed the triage systems gave the highest rate of survival and lowest rate of over triage and under triage. Conclusion In the calamity of Wenchuan earthquake with large number of casualties, Emergency Department automatically shifted into disaster mode and triage victims by the irregular triage systems. In this situation, medical staff do not just triage the patients to the Emergency Department or to see a doctor, but triage the victims to the medical care immediately and efficiently. By the new triage system, the West China Hospital saves more lives in less time.
ObjectiveTo evaluate four triage methods including START, Care-Flight, rapid emergency medicinescore (REMS) and Sacco score for the length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay and the severity of injury in Lushan earthquake victims.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed in 41 cases of critical earthquake victims in the emergency department of West China Hospital from April 20th to April 26th, 2013 in Lushan earthquake. The length of hospital stay and length of ICU stay were compared for four triage methods. The correlation between four triage methods and length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay and injury severity score (ISS) were also analyzed.ResultsThe length of ICU stay for victims whose triage level were red by START triage method or Care-Flight triage method was longer than whose triage levels were yellow. But the length of hospital stay for victims between the two triage levels had no significant difference. In addition, there was a correlation between critical victims and the length of ICU stay in the classification of START triage method and Care-Flight triage method.ConclusionThe length of ICU stay of the victims, whose triage level are red by START triage or Care-Flight triage methods, are longer than whose triage level are yellow. The levels of START and Care-Flight triage are correlated to length of ICU stay.
ObjectiveCurrently, simple triage and rapid transport (START) is widely used as a method to evaluate the severity of mass casualty events in a disaster. Modified physiological triage tool (MPTT) and modified physiological triage tool-24 (MPTT-24) are newly introduced triage methodologies that may offer improvements over START. However, the feasibility and accuracy of these two methods cannot be adequately assessed without sufficient data support, whether in earthquakes or other disasters. Our study aimed to analyze the value of the three triage methodologies in mass casualty events due to earthquakes.MethodsA total of 36 604 injured patients from the West China Hospital database were evaluated using START, MPTT and MPTT-24, respectively. The triage methodologies were then evaluated based on death and ICU acceptance, using the area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC). The sensitivity and specificity of the three methodologies were compared under different standards and correlations with the injury severity score (ISS) were analyzed. ResultsFor deaths, the AUCs for the triage methodologies were 0.711, 0.775 and 0.686 for START, MPTT, and MPTT-24, respectively. For ICU acceptance, the AUCs of the triage methodologies after correction for bias were 0.579, 0.618 and 0.603. The correlation coefficients of the triage methodologies and ISS score were 0.041, 0.087, and 0.115.ConclusionsMPTT is superior to START and MPTT-24 in the evaluation of critically ill patients in mass casualty events caused by earthquakes.