TY - JOUR
T1 - The hidden war
T2 - Humanitarian surgery in a combat zone
AU - Porta, Christopher R.
AU - Robins, Richard
AU - Eastridge, Brian
AU - Holcomb, John
AU - Schreiber, Martin
AU - Martin, Matthew
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - Background: Humanitarian surgical care (HSC) provided during wartime plays a substantial role in military operations, but has not been described or quantified beyond individual experiences. Methods: Prospective survey was conducted of all military members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan between 2002 and 2011. Results: There were 266 responses. On average, surgeons had been in practice for 3 years at their 1st deployment and the majority were not fellowship trained. HSC was performed on all body systems and patient populations, including surgery for malignancy. Although 30% of responders performed surgeries they had never done before as a staff surgeon, 84% felt well prepared by their residency. The majority felt that performing HSC improved unit readiness (60%), benefited local population (64%), and contributed to counterinsurgency operations (54%). Conclusion: Over our 10-year period, hundreds of military surgeons performed countless HSC cases in Iraq and Afghanistan and the majority felt that HSC had numerous benefits.
AB - Background: Humanitarian surgical care (HSC) provided during wartime plays a substantial role in military operations, but has not been described or quantified beyond individual experiences. Methods: Prospective survey was conducted of all military members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan between 2002 and 2011. Results: There were 266 responses. On average, surgeons had been in practice for 3 years at their 1st deployment and the majority were not fellowship trained. HSC was performed on all body systems and patient populations, including surgery for malignancy. Although 30% of responders performed surgeries they had never done before as a staff surgeon, 84% felt well prepared by their residency. The majority felt that performing HSC improved unit readiness (60%), benefited local population (64%), and contributed to counterinsurgency operations (54%). Conclusion: Over our 10-year period, hundreds of military surgeons performed countless HSC cases in Iraq and Afghanistan and the majority felt that HSC had numerous benefits.
KW - Afghanistan
KW - Humanitarian aid
KW - Humanitarian surgery
KW - Iraq
KW - Military combat
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899725291&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84899725291&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.12.027
DO - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.12.027
M3 - Article
C2 - 24791642
AN - SCOPUS:84899725291
SN - 0002-9610
VL - 207
SP - 766
EP - 772
JO - American Journal of Surgery
JF - American Journal of Surgery
IS - 5
ER -