Citation

Marson AC, Thomson JC. J. Trauma 2001; 50(5): 917-20; discussion 920-1.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, State University of Londrina, Rua Paes Leme, 1264, sala 401, Bairro Ipiranga, Londrina, PR 86010-520, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11371852

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the impact of the prehospital trauma care system on the mortality from motor vehicle crashes and on the temporal distribution between the crash and related death. METHODS: Autopsies performed by the Forensic Medical Institute on all deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes 1 year before and 1 year after the beginning of the prehospital trauma care system were evaluated. RESULTS: In the first period, 128 deaths occurred, 53.9% of them in the first hour after the crash, 36.7% between the first hour and the seventh day, and 9.4% after 1 week. In the second period, 115 deaths occurred, 40.8% of them in the first hour, 52.2% between the first hour and the seventh day, and 7% after 1 week. Central nervous system injury was the most frequent cause of death in both periods. Mortality was greatest among young people as well as male victims in both periods. CONCLUSION: After starting the prehospital trauma care system in our city, there was a decrease in the deaths occurring before hospital admission, a change in temporal distribution of deaths, and a reduction in the motor vehicle crash mortality rate.

Language: en