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Practice Guideline
. 2018 Oct 4;5(1):34.
doi: 10.1186/s40779-018-0181-6.

Chinese expert consensus on echelons treatment of thoracic injury in modern warfare

Zhao-Wen Zong  1 , Zhi-Nong Wang  2 , Si-Xu Chen  3 , Hao Qin  3 , Lian-Yang Zhang  4 , Yue Shen  4 , Lei Yang  3 , Wen-Qiong Du  3 , Can Chen  3 , Xin Zhong  3 , Lin Zhang  5 , Jiang-Tao Huo  5 , Li-Ping Kuai  6 , Li-Xin Shu  7 , Guo-Fu Du  6 , Yu-Feng Zhao  4 ; Representing the Traumatology Branch of the China Medical Rescue Association, the Youth Committee on Traumatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, the PLA Professional Committee and the Youth Committee on Disaster Medicine, and the Disaster Medicine Branch of the Chongqing Association of Integrative Medicine
Collaborators, Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Chinese expert consensus on echelons treatment of thoracic injury in modern warfare

Zhao-Wen Zong et al. Mil Med Res. .

Abstract

The emergency treatment of thoracic injuries varies of general conditions and modern warfare. However, there are no unified battlefield treatment guidelines for thoracic injuries in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). An expert consensus has been reached based on the epidemiology of thoracic injuries and the concept of battlefield treatment combined with the existing levels of military medical care in modern warfare. Since there are no differences in the specialized treatment for thoracic injuries between general conditions and modern warfare, first aid, emergency treatment, and early treatment of thoracic injuries are introduced separately in three levels in this consensus. At Level I facilities, tension pneumothorax and open pneumothorax are recommended for initial assessment during the first aid stage. Re-evaluation and further treatment for hemothorax, flail chest, and pericardial tamponade are recommended at Level II facilities. At Level III facilities, simple surgical operations such as emergency thoracotomy and debridement surgery for open pneumothorax are recommended. The grading standard for evidence evaluation and recommendation was used to reach this expert consensus.

Keywords: Combat injuries; Echelons treatment; Expert consensus; Thoracic injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

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Not applicable.

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Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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