Prehospital and Early Intrahospital Management of Trauma

To date, trauma represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Approximately 9% of annual deaths, or more than five million people, die as a result of trauma, whether deliberate or intentional; no less important is the impact, in both social and economic terms, represented by trauma survivors and the care they receive [1]. In the United States, a country that has historically delved into the issue of trauma in both civilian and military settings, it is estimated that just under $900 billion is spent annually on the management of the trauma patient, to which must be added another $450 billion or so, representing economic losses resulting from lost wages and lost productivity.