Anesthesia for Trauma & Emergency Surgery

Anesthesia for Trauma & Emergency Surgery

Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mor-tality in all age groups, and is the leading cause of death in the young. All aspects of trauma care, from that provided at the scene, through transport, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care, and rehabili-tation, must be coordinated if the patient is to have the greatest chance for full recovery. The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program developed by the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Committee on Trauma has, over time, resulted in an increasingly consistent approach to trauma resuscitation. The development of criteria for level one trauma centers has also improved trauma care by directing severely injured patients to facilities with appropriate resources.

Although trauma anesthesia is sometimes thought of as a unique topic, many of the principles for managing trauma patients are relevant to any unstable or hemorrhaging patient.