Objective To evaluate the performance of emergency medical rescue (EMR) within 1 month after Lushan earthquake, and to prove and enrich the experience from Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide useful references for global earthquake EMR with regard to decreasing death and disability rates. Methods All the following date published within 1 month after 4.20 Lushan earthquake were collected and analyzed, including official information, public documents, news release, relevant information from websites and victims’ medical records in the West China Hospital, then the relevant domestic and foreign literature about EMR (including EMR of Wenchuan earthquake). And then comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of EMR in Lushan earthquake. Results a) Being 87 km apart from each other, the main seismic zones of Lushan and Wenchuan located in the south west and middle north of Longmenshan fault zone, respectively. Although only 1 earthquake magnitude differed between them, the disaster area, and the number of affected population, deaths, disappearances, injured, severe injured and migration population in Wenchuan earthquake were 40, 23, 353, 853, 27, 14 and 51 times higher than those in Lushan earthquake, respectively. b) Learned from Wenchuan experience, the manpower scheduling in Lushan earthquake was quicker: the assembled medical personnel peak of Lushan vs. Wenchuan was 87.62% vs. 56.06 % in golden 72 hours post-quake. c) Supplies scheduling was more rational: the utilization rate was higher under the guidance of accurate information of demand. d) Medical treatment was more rational and efficient: the critical injured were treated following “Four concentration treatment principles”; saving life and restoring function at the same time; treatment and physical-mental rehabilitation at the same time; treatment and evidence production and implementation at the same time. e) Medical institutions and service returned to normal in time: 96.7% (440/455) of government owned township medical institutions in 21 affected towns returned to normal and provided medical services at their original sites. Conclusion By learning form Wenchuan experience, the following performance is implemented in Lushan earthquake: medical rescue guided by the accurate information; supplies scheduling guided by the accurate demand; both critical injured treatment,and physical-mental rehabilitation guided by the accurate assessment of injuries. So the medical rescue within 1 month after Lushan earthquake is quicker, more rational and efficient. After 20 days post quake zero death of critical injured was achieved. The early physical-mental rehabilitation fastens the functional reconstruction of the injured and helps them return to the society. So it suggests that the Lushan EMR enriches and develops the reference value of EMR experience of Wenchuan earthquake.
Objective To collect and analyze the data of emergency medicine supply for both Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes victims in the West China Hospital, so as to provide evidence for scientifically and efficiently carrying out the logistical support for emergency rescue medicines supply, and improving the coping capacity for those similar public health emergencies. Methods Both medicine constituent ratios and DDDs were taken as evaluation indexes, and the data were input by Excel software. Then the following items were analyzed: the use and cost of emergency medicine for victims admitted in the hospital from one day to one month after earthquake, as well as, the acceptance, allocation and use of the donation medicines for both Wenchuan and Lusan earthquakes. Results During the first month after Lushan earthquake, the victims used 26 categories of medicines involving 455 drug specifications in the West China Hospital. The dosage and DDDs of therapeutic medicines were higher than those of ancillary medicines. The donation medicines for Lushan earthquake accepted by the hospital were in 8 categories involving 16 drug specifications, and they were all used to rescue the victims in the hospital. Based on the hospital emergency medicine supply system oriented by the information of victim’s medicine use, the drug specification and total drug cost of the donation medicines for Lushan earthquake decreased by 90.91% and 89.73%, respectively, indicating a more accurate and efficient system compared with those for Wenchuan earthquake. Conclusion The implementation of the hospital emergency medicine supply system oriented by the information of victim’s medicine use is helpful to improve the time efficiency and pertinence of earthquake medical rescue.
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.
Objective To provide references for production and dissemination of evidence in the fields of medical emergency management, treatment, and prevention of epidemics after May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake by systematically reviewing, analyzing, and comparing quake related papers in medical journals. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature) databases (range: from inception to Sept. 2009). Quake related papers were imported into EndNote software, checked for duplication, and categorized by predefined standards. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0. Results There were relatively fewer quake related articles globally before the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake, and the quantity of papers in MEDLINE was four times than that in CBM. In contrast, the quantity of Chinese quake articles increased rapidly after Wenchuan earthquake, peaking in Aug. 2008 at 6.9 times the average during the 50 years before the quake. The quake related papers in CBM appeared in 378 journals covering a diverse range of subject matter. Meanwhile, there was little change in the quantity of quake related articles in MEDLINE database. Conclusions The effort of producing and disseminating Wenchuan earthquake related medical research has been effectively organized and conducted in a scientific and timely manner, producing the largest in number of quake related medical papers in human history. It has provided first-hand guidance for disaster medical relief around the globe. We should strengthen the systematic construction of disaster medicine, and make an effort to summarize and disseminate evidence in the fields of rehabilitation, system reestablishment, and prevention of epidemics.
Objective A retrospective summary of the planning, organization, and implementation of the transprovince transfer of patients injured in Wenchuan Earthquake with an emphasis on experiences that may be helpful in future emergency rescue and patient transfer. Methods We collected the daily reports of a patient transfer team attached to the Sichuan Rescue Headquarters from May 12 through May 31, 2008. Results Under the guidance of policy made by the coordinating group of the Ministry of Health, and with the close cooperation of the railway and airline departments the transferring group transferred 10 373 patients in the period studied. The transfers were from 11 disaster areas, including Chengdu, Mianyang, and Deyang, to 20 cities and provinces, including Chongqing, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. There were no casualties during transfer, and thus the biggest peacetime government-organized trans-province patienttransfer in China’s history achieved success. Conclusion Trans-province patient transfer is an effective measure to compensate for inadequate medical materials, relieve pressure on medical rescue, and guarantee quality of treatment. In the future, emergency plans for different types of disasters will be established, the information platform will be improved, and transfer procedures will be specified.
Objective To investigate the recovery status of people wounded in the Wenchuan earthquake. Method Data were retrospectively collected from administrative documents in the Bureau of Medical Affairs, Sichuan Provincial Health Department. The severity of injury was assessed by Injury Severity Score (ISS). The data were recorded by EXCEL software and descriptive analysis was conducted. Results Our analysis results of rehabilitation treatment through Feb. 5, 2009 shows that 27,080 of the 28,008 patients had been treated and discharged, for a discharge rate of 97.8%. There were 928 patients still in hospitals at that time, including 55 cases of traumatic brain injury, 163 cases of paraplegia, 260 amputees, and 449 cases of severe spine, pelvis and other fractures. Some amputees needed to receive replacement of artificial limbs or stump dressing operation and rehabilitation; most patients who were installed internal fixation needed to removal and post-rehabilitation. Conclusions The effectiveness of rehabilitation is significant. Our work in the next stage should focus on (1) continuing to improve the establishment of province’s rehabilitation capabilities and increasing capital investment; (2) enhancing training for medical rehabilitation practitioners in order to improve operational standards and service capabilities; (3) developing the wounded rehabilitation standards in later stages, conducting follow-up and functional training in order to maximize recovery and return to society; (4) increasing employment opportunities for disabled persons.
After the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12th, 2008, under the b leadership of the SichuanProvincial Party Committee, the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, and the Ministry of Health of the People’sRepublic of China, the Medical Security Team working at the Sichuan Provincial Headquarters for Wenchuan Earthquakeand Disaster Relief Work constructed a secure medical material distribution system through coordination and interactionamong and between regions, systems, and departments.
Objective To observe the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation in patients with peripheral nerve injuries after the Wenchuan earthquake. Methods A total of 24 cases of peripheral nerve injuries who were admitted to the Rehabilitation Center for Earthquake Victims of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were treated with comprehensive rehabilitation, including exercise therapy, acupuncture therapy, functional electrical stimulation, and occupational therapy (mainly sensory training and wearing orthosis). After 30 treatment sessions, patient motor and sensory function, upper limb functional activity, and electrodiagnostic parameters were evaluated. Meanwhile, concomitant injuries were also recorded. Results As for the recovery of motor and sensory functions, the effective rate was 41.66%. The difference in the scores of upper limb functional activities was statistically significant before and after treatment (Plt;0.01). As assessed by electromyogram and nerve conduction velocity, the response rate was 87.50%. Patients with more concomitant injuries were likely to have slower recovery. Conclusion Comprehensive rehabilitation is appropriate and effective for patients with peripheral nerve injuries after the Wenchuan earthquake.
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.
In recent years，West China Hospital of Sichuan University actively participated in medical assistance and rescue in Wenchuan，Yushu and Lushan earthquakes. However，professional roles of cardiovascular surgeons in medical assistance and rescue in earthquakes remain unclear because of the particularity of cardiovascular surgery, which often affects the assembly of medical assistance and rescue teams. Thus，we need to explore the necessity for cardiovascular surgeons to join medical rescue teams within 72 hours after earthquake. In this article，medical rescue work of cardiovascular surgeons within 72 hours after 2008 “5•12” Wenchuan earthquake and 2013 “4•20” Lushan earthquake is analyzed and compared to identify professional roles of cardiovascular surgeons in medical rescue within 72 hours after earthquake. It is necessary for cardiovascular surgeons to join medical rescue teams within 72 hours after earthquake.