Multiple trauma management in mountain environments - a scoping review : Evidence based guidelines of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom). Intended for physicians and other advanced life support personnel.

Sumann, G; Moens, D; Brink, B; Brodmann Maeder, M.; Greene, M; Jacob, M; Koirala, P; Zafren, K; Ayala, M; Musi, M; Oshiro, K; Sheets, A; Strapazzon, G; Macias, D; Paal, P (2020). Multiple trauma management in mountain environments - a scoping review : Evidence based guidelines of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom). Intended for physicians and other advanced life support personnel. Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine, 28(1), p. 117. BioMed Central 10.1186/s13049-020-00790-1

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BACKGROUND

Multiple trauma in mountain environments may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to urban environments.

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence based guidance to assist rescuers in multiple trauma management in mountain environments.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

All articles published on or before September 30th 2019, in all languages, were included. Articles were searched with predefined search terms.

SOURCES OF EVIDENCE

PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and hand searching of relevant studies from the reference list of included articles.

CHARTING METHODS

Evidence was searched according to clinically relevant topics and PICO questions.

RESULTS

Two-hundred forty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Recommendations were developed and graded according to the evidence-grading system of the American College of Chest Physicians. The manuscript was initially written and discussed by the coauthors. Then it was presented to ICAR MedCom in draft and again in final form for discussion and internal peer review. Finally, in a face-to-face discussion within ICAR MedCom consensus was reached on October 11th 2019, at the ICAR fall meeting in Zakopane, Poland.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple trauma management in mountain environments can be demanding. Safety of the rescuers and the victim has priority. A crABCDE approach, with haemorrhage control first, is central, followed by basic first aid, splinting, immobilisation, analgesia, and insulation. Time for on-site medical treatment must be balanced against the need for rapid transfer to a trauma centre and should be as short as possible. Reduced on-scene times may be achieved with helicopter rescue. Advanced diagnostics (e.g. ultrasound) may be used and treatment continued during transport.

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