The treatment of multiple injuries: prehospital emergency aid.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate initial (prehospital) assessment and management of high-energy blunt polytrauma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prehospital assessment and management of high-energy blunt polytrauma patients was analyzed. The extent of initial assessment and management was compared with Advanced Trauma Life Support recommendations. RESULTS: Altogether, 101 (63.05%) of 159 polytrauma patients (mean Injury Severity Score was 28.04) were admitted to Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital by the Emergency Aid Service after motor vehicle traffic accidents. In comparison with Advanced Trauma Life Support recommendations initial assessment (ABCDE) reached 14% and management reached 10.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Initial assessment of high-energy blunt polytrauma patients reached 14% and management reached 10.6% of that recommended by Advanced Trauma Life Support.