Scope of the Problem and Operational Considerations: Logistics, Surge Capacity, Organizing a Response, Sustainment Issues, Resource Utilization

Mass casualty incident (MCI) events have the potential to overwhelm the capabilities of a regional trauma system. The challenge of explosive-associated MCI events is their inherent potential to inflict numerous casualties, each with the potential for multiple significant injuries. The threat of this scenario is further compounded by the fact that few providers or medical facilities have experience with events in which human and material resources can be rapidly overwhelmed. Several operational challenges impact the surgical response to MCI, including lack of information (or even disinformation), limited human resources, blood and blood product resuscitation resources, operating room availability, and materiel resources.