Atención del paciente politraumatizado en sala de emergencia

Abstract

Polytrauma associated with road transport accidents is a public health problem because it is one of the main causes of death worldwide, especially in low-income countries. In Ecuador, it was responsible for at least 3,279 deaths in 2021, a figure that is expected to increase by 2040. Most of the deaths occur within the first hour after the event, which indicates the vital role of the primary care physician when receiving a polytraumatized patient. In this line, the present project aims to determine the appropriate management of polytraumatized patients in the emergency room by reviewing the scientific evidence. Development: In recent years, several management protocols have been established for the polytraumatized patient; however, it is the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) that has been used internationally and indicates the different steps to be followed when receiving a patient with this type of injury. Conclusion: All polytraumatized patients require urgent medical attention that should be provided according to international standards that have been evaluated to guarantee a better prognosis and decrease of sequelae in these scenarios.