Resuscitation of the multiply injured patient

The resuscitation of the traumatized patient with multisystem injuries begins on the scene of the incident, continues into the emergency department, and finally includes the surgeon and the operating room. Treatment of the traumatized patient requires a systematic approach to best utilize all facilities and personnel while limiting duplication of service. The patient must go to the facility that best meets his or her needs. Stabilization in the emergency department should proceed in an orderly and organized fashion. Care must be taken when establishing the airway to protect the cervical spine. Massive hemothorax, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, intraabdominal bleeding, and retroperitoneal bleeding, as well as flail chest, must be remedied before stabilization and resuscitation can come to a successful outcome. Internal cardiac massage may need to be done for cardiac tamponade or when resuscitation has failed. Fluid repletion must be vigorous and aggressive. Albumin is probably of no benefit to the patient and, in fact, may be deleterious. Hetastarch may turn out to be a valuable addition to the fluid management of these patients. The patient is entitled to one physician who can call the consultants together. In addition, there should be a single physician for the patient who can control the timing of operative intervention as well as coordinate the overall management by the consultants.