Expert consensus on the evaluation and diagnosis of combat injuries of the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army

Zhao-Wen Zong,Yue Shen,Yu-Feng Zhao,Rong Zhang,Xiao-Zheng Zhong,Si-Xu Chen,Si-Hao He,Lin Zhang,Dao-Cheng Liu,Lian-Yang Zhang,Xiao-Xue Li,Lei Yang,Hao Qin,Quan-Wei Bao

doi:10.1186/s40779-018-0152-y

Abstract

The accurate assessment and diagnosis of combat injuries are the basis for triage and treatment of combat casualties. A consensus on the assessment and diagnosis of combat injuries was made and discussed at the second annual meeting of the Professional Committee on Disaster Medicine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). In this consensus agreement, the massive hemorrhage, airway, respiration, circulation and hypothermia (MARCH) algorithm, which is a simple triage and rapid treatment and field triage score, was recommended to assess combat casualties during the first-aid stage, whereas the abbreviated scoring method for combat casualty and the MARCH algorithm were recommended to assess combat casualties in level II facilities. In level III facilities, combined measures, including a history inquiry, thorough physical examination, laboratory examination, X-ray, and ultrasound examination, were recommended for the diagnosis of combat casualties. In addition, corresponding methods were recommended for the recognition of casualties needing massive transfusions, assessment of firearm wounds, evaluation of mangled extremities, and assessment of injury severity in this consensus.

Highlights

The accurate assessment and diagnosis of combat injuries are the basis for triage and treatment of combat casualties
Because the evaluation method in the specialized hospitals is mostly the same as that implemented under normal conditions, this consensus only introduces the combat injury assessment methods currently applied in battlefield first aid, emergency treatment, and the early treatment stages for the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
Injury assessment for emergency treatment staging Consensus 7: The MARCH assessment sequence is recommended for emergency care institutions to determine injuries that require immediate attention (Grade B/Type IIa)

Summary

Introduction

The accurate assessment and diagnosis of combat injuries are the basis for triage and treatment of combat casualties. Overview Consensus 1: Assessment and diagnosis of combat injuries are fundamental for triage, treatment, and evacuation (Grade C/Type I).

Results

Conclusion