Abstract
Over the course of history, while the underlying causes for wars have remained few, mechanisms of inflicting injury and our ability to treat the consequent wounds have dramatically changed. Success rates in treating war-related injuries have improved greatly, although the course of progress has not proceeded linearly. From Homer's Iliad to the Civil War to Vietnam, there have been significant improvements in mortality, despite a concurrent increase in the lethality of weapons. These improvements have occurred primarily as a result of progress in three key areas: management of wounds, treatment of shock, and systems of organization.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 31-45 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Critical Care Clinics |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2009 |
Keywords
- Battlefield
- History
- Shock
- Trauma
- War
- Wound care
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine