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Prehospital Damage Control Resuscitation

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Damage Control in Trauma Care

Abstract

Prehospital trauma medicine is both one of the most demanding and rewarding fields of medicine available to health-care providers. The challenge of delivering fast and effective medical interventions in a chaotic, potentially dangerous, or environmentally uncomfortable circumstances will suit only a small proportion of the medical fraternity. To succeed, information must be gathered quickly and shared with the medical team and a plan generated. Quick and decisive decision-making is of paramount importance as is the communication of information within the team and with relevant outside agencies. Effective team working is essential. The predominate aims of the team are to limit further blood loss, to protect the airway and to provide adequate analgesia. In a mass casualty event, triage and medical organization assume priority as effective command and control becomes vital.

Well-trained and resourced clinicians can deliver high-quality medical care in any environment that results in reduction in mortality, effective pain control, and a well-organized transfer to hospital that will result in a myriad of unmeasurable but nonetheless important effects for the victims of trauma, their families, and other first responders alike.

The fate of the wounded rests in the hands of the one who applies the first dressing.

—Col. Nicholas Senn (1844–1908)

Founder, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, ICT Centre, Birmingham, UK

    Timothy E. Scott M.R.C.P., F.R.C.A., E.D.I.C.

  2. LSU Department of Surgery, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Lance Stuke M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.

Authors
  1. Timothy E. Scott M.R.C.P., F.R.C.A., E.D.I.C.
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  2. Lance Stuke M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Juan Duchesne

  2. LAC+USC Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Kenji Inaba

  3. St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Mansoor Ali Khan

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Scott, T.E., Stuke, L. (2018). Prehospital Damage Control Resuscitation. In: Duchesne, J., Inaba, K., Khan, M. (eds) Damage Control in Trauma Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72607-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72607-6_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-72606-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-72607-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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