Management of unique clinical entities in disaster medicine

This article discusses the management of clinical problems encountered particularly in disasters. These include the principles of multiple-casualty triage, and field and hospital management of blast injury, crush syndrome, compartment syndrome, particulate inhalation, and traumatic asphyxiation. The indications for extraordinary measures, such as field amputation, are detailed. A brief review of the causes and epidemiology of these entities is provided, with emphasis on the clinical management in the disaster setting.