TRAUMA CASES

IN FUTURE CONFLICTS, THE RAPID EVACUATION TO DEFINITIVE CARE OF THE VIETNAM ERA MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. THE FIELD MEDICAL SPECIALIST MAY BE REQUIRED TO STABILIZE AND TRIAGE MANY CASUALTIES OF VARYING COMPLEXITY. IN THIS PROPOSAL, THE USE OF SOPHISTICATED MEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST FIELD PERSONNEL IS DISCUSSED. A MINIATURIZED COMPUTER-BASED PHYSIOLOGIC MONITORING SYSTEM MAY BE POSSIBLE WHICH WOULD HELP IDENTIFY TRENDS, SUGGEST INTERVENTION, PRIORITIZE TRANSPORT, DOCUMENT THE PATIENT'S COURSE, AND ORGANIZE THE APPROACH TO MULTISYSTEM TRAUMA. SUCH A SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO OPTIMIZE THE UTILIZATION OF FIELD PERSONNEL AND EVACUATION FACILITIES AND, THUS, IMPACT EARLY MORTALITY. IN ADDITION, THIS SYSTEM COULD CONTINUE PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY MONITORING THROUGH TRANS-PORT AND DEFINITIVE CARE.