ObjectiveTo carry out an investigation on the life quality of amputees in the “5·12” Wenchuan earthquake before and after rehabilitation of one year (short term), three year (intermediate term) and five year (long term) and find out the best program of recovery. MethodsIn September 2008, 52 patients who were treated in the higher-level hospital and came back to the Second People’s Hospital of Mianzhu City for rehabilitation were divided into two groups: group A and B with 26 patients in each. Phased rehabilitation program was adopted for group A while traditional program was chosen for patients in group B. “The Personal Information Table of Amputees of Deyang City” and The Life Quality Measurement Table of World Health Organization were chosen as the research tools before the program and one year, three years and five years after the program. ResultScores of the life quality of both groups showed a general rising tendency, while group A was higher than group B in each single phase, especially in the longterm one. For positive feeling, group A got a score of 193.0±12.3 and group B got 126.0±11.2; for ability to work, group A had a score of 62.0±5.2 and group B had 41.0±2.3; for life satisfaction, group A achieved 150.0±2.1 and group B achieved 101.0±6.2; for ability of action, the score of group A was 17.0±2.6 and group B was 11.0±5.2. The differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05) . ConclusionCompared with conventional rehabilitation program, phased rehabilitation program can better enhance and consolidate the amputees’ quality of life and promote their returning to family and society, which can make up for the deficiency of the existing rehabilitation programs and is worth popularization and application.
Objective To investigate the mass casualty triage system and its application, to provide evidence and advice for its future standardized use. Method Based on the principles and methods of systematic reviews, we searched MEDLINE (1950 to 2008), The Cochrane library (Issue 2, 2008) and CBM (from establishment to May 2008) to identify papers written in English of Chinese which described mass casualty triage systems or triage systems specific to the aftermath of earthquakes. We extracted information on name, grades, criteria, main characteristics and application of each triage system from the papers involving mass casualty triage systems. We also extracted information on setting, personnel performing the triage, grades, and characteristics from those papers describing any specific triage system for earthquake. We compared the colour of tags, codes and other materials used in different triage systems. Result We included 38 English and 6 Chinese papers. For mass casualty triage systems, we identified 7 primary triage methods with 4 grades.Three of these had relevant application reports. There were 6 secondary triage methods with 3-5 grades, and none had relevant application reports. Four tag methods were identified. Seven papers, 2 of which were published in China, reported specific secondary triage methods for earthquakes. Conclusion Based on the current evidence, there is no universally accepted mass casualty triage system with documented reliability and validity. No triage system has been developed specifically for the wounded in earthquakes. There are large differences between the triage methods for earthquake and other mass casualty incidents. Future research should focus on the development of a reliable and valid mass casualty triage system, aimed at maximizing the capacity for medical rescue.
Objective To summarize our treatment experience for patients with chest injuries in “4•20” Lushan earthquake. Methods Medical records of 17 patients with chest injuries after 2013 Lushan earthquake who were admittedto the Department of Thoracic Surgery，West China Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis of chest injuries was mainly confirmed by medical history，physical examination，X-ray and CT scan of the chest. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Among the 17 patients，there were 14 men and 3 women with their age of 57.3±16.1 years. Results There were 12 patients （70.6%）with crash injury of heavy objects，4 patients （23.5%） with fall injury and 1 patient with road traffic injury. Chest injuries were skin and soft tissue contusion in 17 patients （100%），rib fracturein 15 patients （88.2%） including 1 patient with abnormal respiratory movements，pulmonary contusion in 15 patients （88.2%），hemopneumothorax in 11 patients （64.7%），sternal fracture in 1 patient （5.9%） and bilateral pneumothorax with widespread subcutaneous emphysema in 1 patient （5.9%）. Thirteen patients （76.5%） had concomitant brain，abdominal，orthopedic or nerve injuries. One patient underwent left thoracotomy，clot removal and internal fixation of rib fractures for left coagulated hemothorax and left lower lobe atelectasis. All the 17 patients received timely and effective treatment and there was noin-hospital mortality. Conclusions Mechanisms of earthquake injuries are often complex，and patients often have multipleinjuries. The main types of chest injury are rib fractures and pulmonary contusion. Tube thoracostomy is a simple andeffective treatment strategy for them. Satisfactory pain management and bronchoscopy procedure can effectively help patientswith removal of respiratory secretions and maintenance of airway patency.
ObjectiveTo summarize the nursing experience of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) technology for deficiency of skin and soft tissue in "4·20" earthquake damage. MethodsWe used VAC to treat 20 patients suffering from deficiency of skin and soft tissue who were injured in "4·20" earthquake (35 wounds) from April 21st to 28th, 2013; and we observed closely the results of nursing for pain and psychological care. ResultsA total of 35 wounds were all cleaned after 5 to 7 days; 20 wounds were healed after VAC treatment; 15 wounds recovered well by covering autogenous split-thickness skin; 20 patients had stable emotion and all left the hospital with the recovery. ConclusionVAC for deficiency of skin and soft tissue caused by "4·20" earthquake damage may obviously decrease the time of wound healing, relieve the pain caused by changing fresh dressing, and reduce the length of stay in the hospital.
Objective To discuss the treatment of craniocerebral injuries caused by earthquake. Methods Retrospective analysis of clinical information for 256 patients with craniocerebral injury caused by an earthquake. Results The ‘Classification and Treatment’ was applied to the patients, whether or not they were operated on. A total of 146 patients were cured, 68 improved, 24 remained dependent on the care of others, and 8 died. The mortality rate was 3.13%. Conclusion Applying the ‘Classification and Treatment’ to patients with craniocerebral injury following an earthquake supported the use of medical resources and was associated with a low rate of death and disability.
Objective To provide evidence for the construction of a hospital emergency mechanism for internal supervision, based on and analysis of demands and the identification of effective measures. Methods The concepts of evidence-based health care and management methods were applied. Through the systematic collection of relevant information from CNKI and other sources, and in the light of empirical evidence following the Wenchuan earthquake, suggestions were presented. Results We identified 182 studies. The hospital emergency mechanism for internal supervision is very important in dealing with unexpected incidents. The implementation, funding and material support are the focus of supervision. Cooperation, discipline, and standardized procedures are the key to an effective mechanism. Conclusions It is suggested that the construction of a hospital emergency mechanism for internal supervision should involve prevention, response and recovery.
During the medical rescue of Wenchuan earthquake, in accordance with the instruction of the Chinese Ministry of Health, West China Hospital set up the Medical Supply Center for Medical Teams from Other Provinces, put up standard storehouses within 10 hours, performed professional purchase, precisely distributed medical materials according to relevant demands, and decided the scientific route based on the distribution of medical teams from other provinces, so as to ensure the medical materials’ being delivered to the medical teams safely, promptly and accurately.
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.
During the medical rescue of Wenchuan earthquake, the Nursing Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University immediately initiated the emergency response plan, reasonably dispatched nurses of the medical teams from West China Hospital, other provinces and foreign countries. Meanwhile, the Nursing Department set up the medical team for emergency treatment, provided the basic information of the wounded, established the flow of rapid registration and rapid preview, formulated and optimized the flow of the admission of the wounded, and improved the flow of information-collecting. What’s more, the nursing department adjusted the current work according to the situation of hospitalization of the wounded in different stages to ensure the efficient running of medical rescue. Moreover, the routine nursing practice was also maintained and none of the inpatients other than those from the disaster area got involved in any unexpected accident.
Objective To access and identify risk factors related to death and injuries in earthquakes. Method We searched The Cochrane Library, SCI, PubMed, CBM and CNKI from establishment to June 2008 to identify cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies involving risk factors related to death and injuries in earthquakes. The methodological quality of included cohort and case-controlled studies were assessed, and the potential risk factors of earthquake related death and injuries were systematically enumerated. Results Two cohort, 2 case-control and 4 cross-sectional studies were included. Some included studies might be associated with selection bias. Risk factors for earthquake death and injuries included age, gender, mental disease, physical disabled, socioeconomics status, type/ age/ height/ collapse of building, motor vehicle driver and geographical location when the earthquake occurred. Conclusions Death and injuries in earthquakes may be attributed to 3 categories: demographic characteristics, building features, and seismic/ geographical/ location factors. However, the conclusion of this review and its implications may be limited by the potential selection bias of included studies and the regional characteristics of the included populations. Original studies from Chinese seismic areas are especially needed.