Advanced Trauma Life Support®

Abstract

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) is a concept for rapid initial assessment and primary management of an injured patient, starting at the time of injury and continuing through initial assessment, lifesaving interventions, re-evaluation, stabilization and, when needed, transfer to a trauma centre. Despite some shortcomings, it is the only standardized concept for emergency room management, which is internationally accepted. Because of its simple and clear structure, it is flexible and can be universally integrated into existing emergency room algorithms under consideration of local, regional as well as national and international peculiarities in the sense of a "common language of trauma". Under these aspects ATLS also seems to be a valid concept for Europe.

Implikationen der prähospitalen Einschätzung des Traumapatienten auf den Behandlungsverlauf – Eine Auswertung aus dem TraumaRegister DGU®

“…Hierbei sollten das Verletzungsmuster wie auch die Verletzungsschwere möglichst genau eingeschätzt werden, um daraus differenzierte Maßnahmen ableiten zu können. Insbesondere in der Akutphase steht die Stabilisierung der Vitalparameter im Vordergrund, sodass u. U. ein erhöhtes Risiko besteht, Traumafolgen zu übersehen oder fehleinzuschätzen [12]. Ziel der prähospitalen Einschätzung sollte es sein, die zur Verfügung stehenden Ressourcen optimal und zeitgerecht zu nutzen [17].…”

The effect of paramedic training on pre-hospital trauma care (EPPTC-study): a study protocol for a prospective semi-qualitative observational trial

“…Münzberg et al showed that since 2003, ATLS has performed with high ratings based on evaluation by the participants [11]. Based on the “lowest common denominator”, ATLS is a concept for training the physicians dealing with severe injured patients in the emergency departments in Germany [13]. Ruchholtz et al showed in the 1990s that procedures based on the guidelines could improve the care of emergency room patients [14].…”