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Major trauma 

Major trauma
Chapter:
Major trauma
DOI:
10.1093/med/9780198799481.003.0015
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date: 30 June 2022

This chapter discusses the management of major trauma. Trauma is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life, and every minute, more than nine people die from injuries and violence. Trimodal distribution of death implies death from injury occurs in one of three time periods: first peak (within seconds to minutes), second peak (within minutes to several hours), and third peak (after several days to weeks). The ‘golden hour’ refers to the period when medical care can make the maximum impact on death and disability. A systematic, rapid initial assessment is essential and this includes preparation, triage, primary survey (ABCDE), resuscitation, secondary survey, continued monitoring, and reevaluation and definitive care. The chapter then looks at the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) system. It also considers thoracic injuries, abdominal trauma, vascular injuries, and head injuries.

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