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. 2023 Aug;105(2):114-117.
doi: 10.4174/astr.2023.105.2.114. Epub 2023 Aug 1.

Observations and experiences of pediatric surgeons working on the field in the first 7 days of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake

Alparslan Kapisiz  1 , Cem Kaya  1 , Sibel Eryılmaz  1 , Abdurrahman Azzam  1 , Asli Sevimli  1 , Ramazan Karabulut  1 , Zafer Turkyilmaz  1 , Kaan Sonmez  1
Affiliations

Observations and experiences of pediatric surgeons working on the field in the first 7 days of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake

Alparslan Kapisiz et al. Ann Surg Treat Res. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to share our experiences and problems, and to suggest solutions as pediatric surgeons who took part in the teams that went voluntarily to the region hit by the Kahramanmaraş earthquake during the first 7 days after the disaster.

Methods: This study conveys our observations made at Kahramanmaraş Sütçüimam University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, where we worked as a volunteer team between February 7 and 14, 2023.

Results: During the first few days, there were registration problems due to lack of electricity, water, and internet, as well as issues with sterile surgical environments. In the following days, a lack of auxiliary health personnel was revealed as the main difficulty.

Conclusion: Since coordination is important when working as a team in the aftermath of an earthquake, staff from the same center should be deployed together if possible, and a team leader should be selected. Alternative recording systems should be established in case of power outages and computer problems. Secretaries, auxiliary health staff, and technicians should be included in the team in addition to doctors and nurses.

Keywords: Earthquakes; Emergencies; Pediatrics; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Right arm of earthquake survivor child with crush syndrome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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