Advanced Trauma Life Support Study: Trauma Resuscitation Time

Background: The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course teaches procedures for administering initial trauma care. This study attempts to document changes that occurred in institutions after ATLS training had been introduced. Patients and Methods: Prospective analysis by videotape review of trauma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of trauma 2003-12, Vol.29 (6), p.379-384
Main Authors: van Olden, Ger D. J., Meeuwis, J. Dik, Bolhuis, Hugo W., Boxma, Han, Goris, R. Jan A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Emergency services
Health care
Life support systems
Training
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Summary:Background: The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course teaches procedures for administering initial trauma care. This study attempts to document changes that occurred in institutions after ATLS training had been introduced. Patients and Methods: Prospective analysis by videotape review of trauma resuscitations in two community training hospitals was performed. The major outcome measure was the time to accomplish procedures defined in the ATLS curriculum. Results: There was a significant post-ATLS improvement in frequency of the following diagnostic and therapeutic activities: obtaining arterial blood samples, hypothermia management, ultrasound examination of the abdomen and rectal examination. The median time to obtain the neurologic status decreased from 6 to 2 min (p = 0.019). The hospital trauma resuscitation time (TRT) was 49 min in both groups. Conclusion: ATLS training significantly improves a number of qualitative and quantitative aspects of acute trauma resuscitation. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1439-0590
1863-9933
1615-3146
1863-9941
DOI:10.1007/s00068-003-1252-1