Syrian revolution: a field hospital under attack.

Area of Science:

• Conflict medicine
• Humanitarian aid
• Emergency surgery

Background:

• The Syrian revolution initiated a severe humanitarian crisis, necessitating urgent medical relief efforts for injured civilians.
• Numerous attempts were made to provide aid and medical assistance to those affected by the conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the establishment and operation of a secret field hospital in Aleppo during the Syrian conflict.
• To analyze the types of surgical interventions and patient outcomes in a challenging humanitarian setting.

Main Methods:

• A secret field hospital was established in Al-Bab town, Aleppo, by the Medical Arab Union.
• Egyptian volunteer physicians operated, utilizing supplies from Turkey and equipment from a non-functional government hospital.
• Non-medical Syrian volunteers were trained to assist in medical tasks.

Main Results:

• The hospital treated 75 patients, with 28 requiring surgical intervention.
• Common procedures included vascular (32%), orthopedic (32%), and abdominal exploration (25%).
• The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 21; two patients died intraoperatively from massive bleeding.

Conclusions:

• Establishing field hospitals in crisis zones requires strong coordination with relief organizations and proximity to borders.
• Effective triaging and training of non-medical volunteers are crucial for managing patient flow and care.
• The study underscores the challenges and necessities of providing surgical care in active conflict zones.