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Dealing With Burn Patients in War Zones

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2020

Antonios Koutras ,
Athanasios Syllaios ,
Ioannis Tsilikis ,
Georgios Kalinterakis ,
Prokopis-Andreas Zotos ,
Ifigeneia Zouliati ,
Adamantios Michalinos ,
Ioannis Karavokyros ,
Dimitrios Schizas  and
Emmanouil Pikoulis
Antonios Koutras
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Laiko University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
Athanasios Syllaios*
Affiliation:
First Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Ioannis Tsilikis
Affiliation:
Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology-Interventional Cardiology, Euroclinic, Athens, Greece
Georgios Kalinterakis
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopedics, General Military Hospital, Athens, Greece
Prokopis-Andreas Zotos
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Larisa University Hospital, Larisa, Greece
Ifigeneia Zouliati
Affiliation:
Department of Operating Rooms, Paidon-Aghia Sofia Hospital, Athens, Greece
Adamantios Michalinos
Affiliation:
First Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Ioannis Karavokyros
Affiliation:
First Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Schizas
Affiliation:
First Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Emmanouil Pikoulis
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Athanasios Syllaios, First Department of Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ag Thoma 17, 11527, Greece (e-mail: nh_reas@hotmail.com).
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Abstract

Objective:

Treating burn patients in the battlefield is one of the biggest challenges that military doctors and medical personnel can face. Wound patterns have been changed over time due to the introduction of new weapons, and many different aspects play a major role in the management of those burns nowadays. There is a potential gap in care of burn patients in war zones.

Methods:

A thorough literature search in PubMed, scientific journals, and Internet sites was conducted in regard to burn patients and trauma in war zones.

Results:

It is crucial for military surgeons to be able to stabilize burn patients during wartime conflicts, especially those patients who suffer from extreme burn injuries, as specialized treatment should be given. Medical personnel should be aware of all medication types used, the ways to minimize the risk of bacterial infection, and the ways to keep the injured safe.

Conclusions:

Injured civilians with burn trauma in the field of battle are deserving care, and special recognition should be given to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that strive to ease human suffering in war zones. Proper management of burn patients in war zones is crucial, and military medical staff and NGOs can play a key role in that purpose.

Keywords

burn degreesburn injuriesburn managementmedical personnelNGOswar zones
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 15 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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