@article{ref1,
title="Supporting the Global War on Terror: a tale of two campaigns featuring the 250th Forward Surgical Team (Airborne)",
journal="American journal of surgery",
year="2005",
author="Rush, Robert M. and Stockmaster, Neil R. and Stinger, Harry K. and Arrington, Edward D. and Devine, John G. and Atteberry, Linda and Starnes, Benjamin W. and Place, Ronald J.",
volume="189",
number="5",
pages="564-70; discussion 570",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Forward Surgical Teams (FSTs) are 20-person units designed to perform front-line, life-saving combat surgery. This study compares the employment, injuries encountered, and workload of an airborne FST in two widely varying campaigns. METHODS: The 250th FST provided far forward surgery for initial entry assaults and follow-on stability operations in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF]) and northern Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF]). Prospective data on all patients admitted to the 250th were analyzed. Data from civil affairs missions were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: In supporting combat operations, 127 surgical procedures (OEF: 68, OIF: 59) were performed on 98 patients (OEF: 50, OIF: 48) during 17 months deployed (OEF: 6, OIF: 11). After initial assaults, stability actions varied significantly in terms of civil affairs missions (OEF: 3, OIF: 161). CONCLUSIONS: Although the number and types of combat casualties were similar between the campaigns, employment of the FST changed dramatically in OIF because of increased medical reconstruction missions.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-9610",
doi="10.1016/j.amjsurg.2005.01.035",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2005.01.035"
}