Comparative characteristics of civilian and military multiple trauma in a level III hospital

Background. Combat multiple injuries are more severe than civilian ones due to the difference in the adverse factors, trauma circumstances, medical aid timing, number of injuries. The purpose was to conduct a comparative analysis of civilian and combat trauma patients’ status upon admission to a level III hospital. Materials and methods. Seventy-nine victims with civilian multiple trauma and 65 wounded persons from the ATO zone were included in the study. We studied consciousness (Glasgow coma scale), hemodynamics, need for vasopressor support and mechanical ventilation, intestinal peristalsis, general blood count, hepatic and renal parameters, coagulogram, acid-base balance and blood gases, serum cytokine levels (interleukins 6, 10). Results. In civilian multiple trauma, traumatic brain injuries and thoraco-abdominal trauma were more common, while combat trauma patients more often had soft tissue injuries. Road accidents and catatrauma were the main causes of civilian multiple trauma, while in combat trauma, blast injuries prevailed. Urgent surgical interventions rate was 12.2 % higher in combat trauma. In combat trauma, impaired consciousness was associated with sedation, in civilian — directly with traumatic brain injury. Hypotension and tachycardia were less severe in combat trauma due to prior resuscitation and vasopressor support. Hypoalbuminemia, hypocoagulation and renal dysfunction were more severe in combat trauma. With cytolytic syndrome manifestations in combat trauma, AST increase prevailed, which was most likely explained by massive tissue destruction. Inflammatory reaction did not depend on the nature of injury and was associated only with its severity and localization. Complications rate was 41.8 % in civilian trauma and 47.7 % in combat trauma, mortality rate — 8.9 and 13.8 %, respectively. Conclusions. Despite similar severity of injury and blood loss, combat wounds have different injury patterns and result in more severe systemic disorders, such as hepatic, renal and hemocoagulation dysfunction. This leads to the higher complications and mortality rates.