Effect of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) on the Time Needed for Treatment in Simulated Mountain Medicine Emergencies

Abstract

The number of tourists exploring mountainous areas continues to increase. As a consequence, rescue operations are increasing, especially for trauma and polytrauma victims. The outcome of such patients depends greatly on the duration of the prehospital stabilization. Limited medical training of mountain rescuers may adversely affect the outcome of patients. There is no study investigating high altitude trauma treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of advanced trauma life support (ATLS) principles in mountain trauma, and to discuss a possible role of ATLS in mountain medicine education programs. We designed 5 tasks representing life-threatening trauma problems encountered in mountain rescue. They were used to evaluate the physician's ability to adequately diagnose and react to trauma situations. We created 2 groups: 1) the ATLS group, consisting of physicians who passed the ATLS course and the mountain medicine course, and 2) the non-ATLS group, consisting of physicians who did not obtain the ATLS training but who did pass the mountain medicine course. We compared the time spent to complete the tasks in both groups. In 4 of the 5 tasks (airway, breathing, circulation, and combination), the ATLS group completed the task significantly faster. In the environment task, however, the ATLS group was slower. This was the only not significant result. ATLS principles adapted and implemented for high altitude medicine education may have a positive impact on high altitude trauma treatment and outcomes.