Traumatology - Are you going to stay and play?

Department:      Traumatology, UMC Groningen
Supervisor:       P. Nieboer MD

 Scientific evidence is hard to obtain in traumatology. There is much variation in patient characteristics, trauma mechanisms and injuries. So how do we cope with this problem in the context of a scientific congres? Simple, we more or less ignore science.

This university hospital is equivalent to a United states level I trauma centre. Unlike the states, we do not have a large amount of penetrating injuries but the majority of our patients sustained blunt injuries.  We are responsible for the care of approxamitely 250-300 severly injured patients (ISS > 16).

This workshop is a basic course in trauma management, lessons we learned from centuries of war, traffic accidents, occupational accidents and falls.  So, if we can’t get the right answers prospectively, look in the past and learn from others and yourself.

During this workshop we will work together to  find solutions for a multipele injured patient.  You don’t need experience to take on this challenge, only a good functioning brain.

At the end of this course you will be able to understand the basic concepts and priorities in the management of multiple injured patients. These concepts are helpful tools in emergency medicine wherever you are,  whatever doctor you become.

How to choose  (without regrets)
Department:      Ethics; traumatology UMC Groningen
Supervisor:       M. de Bree, P. Nieboer

When there are more casualties than rescources, the clinician has to decide who will and who won’t be treated.  But on what grounds will he or she decide? That will be the key-question of our workshop. Before we ask you to be in charge of a casualty simulation we will discuss some guidelines which you can apply. At the end of this session we hope you gained some awareness on what grounds you make your descicions.