Abstract

CAMARGO, Julián et al. "Panther strategy": military trauma in Colombia. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2014, vol.29, n.4, pp.293-304. ISSN 2011-7582.

Background. The impact on medical care for the wounded resulting from a guerrillas and, more recently, drug trafficking and criminal gangs, long irregular warfare in Colombia originated the development of a strategy of health care oriented to ensure optimal, quick, and effective treatment seeking the most likely possibility of survival of the wounded and a satisfactory rehabilitation. Methods. The strategic military trauma care plan began to be developed in the year 2000 and was implemented in the year 2014 under the name of Panther strategy, and was based on the Haddon model that establishes seven successive steps of action and military health care. We present the results of this project, from its inception until the year 2010. Results. In the period from January 2005 to December 2010 there were 8631 combat injuries of the military forces of Colombia; 2462 were killed at the scene of the military operations (28.5%). The actions of EMEREVAC and GATRA teams resulted in a very significant reduction in mortality in the battle field. In-hospital mortality for patients with major trauma (ISS >15) at the last level of attention (Hospital Militar Central) was 2.3%. Conclusions. The strategy of developing the plan of care of patients wounded in combat should take into account all possible variables that ca be included in an analysis of the Haddon matrix. The "Panther plan" as a pillar of care in the military forces of Colombia has been successful, allowing a better chance of survival of the wounded in combat. All health care plans for the traumatized and critically ill patients, and especially in military medicine, must be based on the strength of the continuing education and academic formation of each one of the members of the teams.

Keywords : military medicine; hospitals; military; wounds and injuries; multiple trauma.

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