Advanced trauma life support
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) is a training program for medical professionals in the management of acute trauma cases, developed by the American College of Surgeons. Pronounced as /ədˈvɑːnst ˈtrɔːmə laɪf səˈpɔːrt/.
Etymology
The term "Advanced Trauma Life Support" is derived from the English language. "Advanced" (from the Old English forthweard, meaning "forward") refers to being at a higher level in training or knowledge. "Trauma" (from the Greek traûma, meaning "wound") refers to a serious injury or shock to the body. "Life Support" refers to the treatments and techniques performed in an emergency in order to support life after the failure of one or more vital organs.
Description
ATLS is a systematic approach to the early care of the trauma patient. It is a protocol-based approach that allows healthcare providers to manage trauma effectively and minimize the mortality and morbidity associated with trauma. The ATLS program provides a common language that can save lives in critical situations.
History
The ATLS program was first developed in 1978 by the American College of Surgeons to teach a standardized, concise approach to injury assessment and management for doctors who infrequently treat trauma.
Principles
The main principles of ATLS include the primary survey, the secondary survey, and the definitive care. The primary survey is a quick assessment to identify and treat life-threatening conditions. The secondary survey is a more detailed examination after the primary survey. The definitive care is the stage where the patient's injuries are definitively managed.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Advanced trauma life support
- Wikipedia's article - Advanced trauma life support
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski