Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract Background The triage system used during an actual mass burn casualty (MBC) incident is a major focus of concern. This study introduces a MBC triage system that was used by a burn center during an actual MBC incident following a powder explosion in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Methods This stud...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-08-01
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| Series: | World Journal of Emergency Surgery |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13017-018-0199-9 |
| _version_ | 1819073892793188352 |
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| author | Chip-Jin Ng Shih-Hao You I-Lin Wu Yi-Ming Weng Chung-Hsien Chaou Cheng-Yu Chien Chen-June Seak |
| author_facet | Chip-Jin Ng Shih-Hao You I-Lin Wu Yi-Ming Weng Chung-Hsien Chaou Cheng-Yu Chien Chen-June Seak |
| author_sort | Chip-Jin Ng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The triage system used during an actual mass burn casualty (MBC) incident is a major focus of concern. This study introduces a MBC triage system that was used by a burn center during an actual MBC incident following a powder explosion in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed data from patients who were sent to the study hospital during a MBC incident. The patient list was retrieved from a national online management system. A MBC triage system was developed at the study hospital using the following modifiers: consciousness, breathing, and burn size. Medical records were retrieved from electronic records for analysis. Patient outcomes consisted of emergency department (ED) disposition and intervention. Results The patient population was predominantly female (56.3%), with an average age of 24.9 years. Mean burn sizes relative to the TBSA of triage level I, II, and III patients were 57.9%, 40.5%, and 8.7%, respectively. ICU length of stay differed markedly according to triage level (mean days for levels I vs II vs III: 57.9 vs 39.9 vs 2.5 days; p < 0.001). Triage system levels I and II indicate ICU admission with a sensitivity of 93.9% (95%CI 80.4–98.3%) and a specificity of 86.7% (62.1–96.3%). Overall, 3 (6.3%) patients were under-triaged. Two (4.2%) patients were over-triaged. Sixteen (48.5%) and 21 (63.6%) patients of triage levels I and II received endotracheal intubation and central venous catheterization, respectively. Sorting of the study population with simple triage and rapid treatment (START) showed great sensitivity (100.0%) but poor specificity (53.3%). The Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale (TTAS) presented 87.9% sensitivity and 93.9% specificity. Conclusions The current MBC triage algorithm served as a good indicator of ED disposition but might have raised excessive immediate attention and had the potential to exhaust the available resources. These findings add to our knowledge of the MBC triage system and should help future researchers in adjusting the triage criteria to fit actual disasters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:00:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-021a65ef15624eb4934f876e94442672 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1749-7922 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:00:51Z |
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| series | World Journal of Emergency Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-021a65ef15624eb4934f876e944426722022-12-21T18:55:03ZengBMCWorld Journal of Emergency Surgery1749-79222018-08-011311810.1186/s13017-018-0199-9Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort studyChip-Jin Ng0Shih-Hao You1I-Lin Wu2Yi-Ming Weng3Chung-Hsien Chaou4Cheng-Yu Chien5Chen-June Seak6Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung UniversityDepartment of Emergency, Taoyuan Armed Forces General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Ton-Yen General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung UniversityAbstract Background The triage system used during an actual mass burn casualty (MBC) incident is a major focus of concern. This study introduces a MBC triage system that was used by a burn center during an actual MBC incident following a powder explosion in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed data from patients who were sent to the study hospital during a MBC incident. The patient list was retrieved from a national online management system. A MBC triage system was developed at the study hospital using the following modifiers: consciousness, breathing, and burn size. Medical records were retrieved from electronic records for analysis. Patient outcomes consisted of emergency department (ED) disposition and intervention. Results The patient population was predominantly female (56.3%), with an average age of 24.9 years. Mean burn sizes relative to the TBSA of triage level I, II, and III patients were 57.9%, 40.5%, and 8.7%, respectively. ICU length of stay differed markedly according to triage level (mean days for levels I vs II vs III: 57.9 vs 39.9 vs 2.5 days; p < 0.001). Triage system levels I and II indicate ICU admission with a sensitivity of 93.9% (95%CI 80.4–98.3%) and a specificity of 86.7% (62.1–96.3%). Overall, 3 (6.3%) patients were under-triaged. Two (4.2%) patients were over-triaged. Sixteen (48.5%) and 21 (63.6%) patients of triage levels I and II received endotracheal intubation and central venous catheterization, respectively. Sorting of the study population with simple triage and rapid treatment (START) showed great sensitivity (100.0%) but poor specificity (53.3%). The Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale (TTAS) presented 87.9% sensitivity and 93.9% specificity. Conclusions The current MBC triage algorithm served as a good indicator of ED disposition but might have raised excessive immediate attention and had the potential to exhaust the available resources. These findings add to our knowledge of the MBC triage system and should help future researchers in adjusting the triage criteria to fit actual disasters.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13017-018-0199-9TriageMass casualty incidentsBurnsExplosionsOutcome assessment |
| spellingShingle | Chip-Jin Ng Shih-Hao You I-Lin Wu Yi-Ming Weng Chung-Hsien Chaou Cheng-Yu Chien Chen-June Seak Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study World Journal of Emergency Surgery Triage Mass casualty incidents Burns Explosions Outcome assessment |
| title | Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_full | Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_short | Introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_sort | introduction of a mass burn casualty triage system in a hospital during a powder explosion disaster a retrospective cohort study |
| topic | Triage Mass casualty incidents Burns Explosions Outcome assessment |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13017-018-0199-9 |
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