Overview of Management of Combat Casualties in Mountains: Challenges and Improvements

Abstract

Combat casualties are those casualties which are due to either direct enemy action or those sustained due to any combat related mission. The grading of the casualty varies from mild to serious to life threatening. The damage gets compounded due to the prevailing conditions and field conditions which make timely evacuation difficult. Management of casualties has to be done maintaining the Golden Hour which becomes challenging due to varied factors ranging from terrain to Op logistics. Especially in mountains where the weather and evacuation channels play a major role. Due to the changing management protocols and rapid advancement in technology, the scenario of managing combat casualties has vastly improved. However, the scope of the present article will be restricted to combat casualty management in mountainous terrain. Recommendations are made for improved modes of casualty care and evacuation. A comprehensive search of the relevant literature was done from major scientific database. Assessment of relevant articles was done and compilation was carried out. Articles were studied from Medline, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library. Online consultation was done with various agencies dealing with casualty care especially in mountainous terrain. Modern Combat casualty evacuation has become immediate and efficient. The ultimate goal of combat care is return of the greatest possible number of soldiers to combat and preservation of life and limb. This with the added change in battle scenario of conventional war which will be fought under nuclear umbrella. Timely administration of medical care by adequately trained personnel and well-equipped medical echelons will go long way in reducing mortality rate.The last few decades Overview of … Brig Poninder and Col Satish.