Objective To suggest the establishment a publication plan for emergency situations in order to better manage and control information to the outside environment based on the experience of front-line hospital of grade III level A in Deyang during the response to the Wenchuan earthquake. Method We systematically collected statistical information published in the forms of news, columns, newspapers, periodicals, statistics, brief massage sent out by China Telecom ans China Mobile and banners in various media (CCTV, Sichuan TV, and inside hospital etc.) after Wenchuan earthquake.Result Within 40 days after the Wenchuan Earthquake, the People’s Hospital of Deyang City had reported rescue information for 181 times, sent 1 600 000 phone messages to the public, issued 7 476 pieces of family-search information, distributed 1 486 earthquake first-aid brochures, distributed 1 750 psychological brochures, compiled 12 periodicals called “Special Report for Earthquake Relief Effort”, and finished 3 periodicals called “Special Issue for Earthquake Relief Effort”; issued 319 articles, over 200pictures and videos on websites inside and outside of the hospital; issued over 60 pieces of news and 7 special topic documentaries in CCTV etc.; and issued over 70 pieces of news on People’s Daily. Conclusion During the Wenchuan earthquake, the People’s Hospital of Deyang City shows the rescue work to the public via effective publication mechanisms. News and information is transmitted fast and effectively between people from both upper and lower levels. However, there are weaknesses in working mechanisms and methods, which requires further study and consideration.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of life of residents in stricken area five years after Wenchuan earthquake, so as to explore the main influential factors such as gender, age, ethnic group, marriage status and the extent affected by the earthquake.
MethodsUsing WHOQOL-BREF, 500 residents from Hanyuan county in Sichuan province were assessed in order to analyze their life quality and related factors.
ResultsThe score on the overall WHOQOL-BREF and the level of each factor were significantly lower than the score on the normal people (P < 0.001). Male score in the factor of social relations significantly higher than female (t=3.963, P < 0.001). The overall score and the score of social factor were significantly lower in the minor than in the adults (t=-2.667, P < 0.01; t=-19.287, P < 0.001). And the quality score of social relationship was significantly lower in the single than in the married and cohabiting couples (P < 0.001; P < 0.01).
ConclusionThe quality of life of residents in stricken area five years after Wenchuan earthquake was significantly lower than the national norm. There are significant differences in terms of gender, age, marriage status and earthquake damage on social relations. Steady intimate relationships with others help improve the quality of life of residents in stricken area. Besides, compared those with average damage or no damage, the residents with serious damage are relatively worse in the overall quality of life as well as environmental conditions.
Objective To investigate the recovery status of people wounded in the Wenchuan earthquake. Method Data were retrospectively collected from administrative documents in the Bureau of Medical Affairs, Sichuan Provincial Health Department. The severity of injury was assessed by Injury Severity Score (ISS). The data were recorded by EXCEL software and descriptive analysis was conducted. Results Our analysis results of rehabilitation treatment through Feb. 5, 2009 shows that 27,080 of the 28,008 patients had been treated and discharged, for a discharge rate of 97.8%. There were 928 patients still in hospitals at that time, including 55 cases of traumatic brain injury, 163 cases of paraplegia, 260 amputees, and 449 cases of severe spine, pelvis and other fractures. Some amputees needed to receive replacement of artificial limbs or stump dressing operation and rehabilitation; most patients who were installed internal fixation needed to removal and post-rehabilitation. Conclusions The effectiveness of rehabilitation is significant. Our work in the next stage should focus on (1) continuing to improve the establishment of province’s rehabilitation capabilities and increasing capital investment; (2) enhancing training for medical rehabilitation practitioners in order to improve operational standards and service capabilities; (3) developing the wounded rehabilitation standards in later stages, conducting follow-up and functional training in order to maximize recovery and return to society; (4) increasing employment opportunities for disabled persons.
Objective To investigate the quality of life (QOL) of Beichuan cadres 1 year after Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide references for promoting psychological intervention and improving QOL. Methods With the adoption of WHOQOL-BREF, questionnaire survey on basic conditions of cadre victims, and PCL-C scale, cross-section survey was conducted for 2 055 cadres of Beichuan public institutions in aspects of their QOL, social demographic characteristics and psychological trauma. Results a) Compared with domestic norm, although the Beichuan cadres had higher score in social relation domain (14.31 ± 2.59, Plt;0.01), their QOL scores in each dimensions (physical domain score: 14.16 ± 2.43; psychological domain score: 13.79 ± 2.59, environmental domain score: 11.20 ± 2.74) were lower with significant difference (Plt;0.01); b) The group with population under the age of 30 scored higher than other age groups in the psychological and environmental domains; men scored higher than women in the psychological domain; the widowed group scored lower than other groups in all domains; the Han nationality group scored higher than the Qiang nationality group in all domains; the primary education group scored lower than other groups in the social relation domain; the group with relatives, houses and physical loss or damage scored lower than the non-loss group in all domains; and the higher the score in PCL-C, the lower the scores in all domains (all Plt;0.05). Conclusion Beichuan cadres are severely affected in their physical, psychological and environmental domains even one year after Wenchuan earthquake, especially the female, the Qiang nationality, the old, the lost, and the psychological injured cadres are more badly affected with worse QOL, so those population should be concerned in particular with sustainable psychological service and other measures. The finding of social relation domain score being higher than general population suggests that it is important to promote the satisfaction with social relation through the timely effective support from both government and civil society, and the resettlement of sample housing area as well.
Objective To summarize the treatment and outcomes of patients with multiple injuries combined with thoracic trauma following the Wenchuan earthquake. Methods The wounded patients admitted from 12th to 31st May with multiple injuries combined with thoracic trauma after the earthquake were retrospectively analyzed. This includes baseline information, treatments, outcomes and deaths. Results Liver repair, spleen abscission, decompression and removed of intracranial hematoma ranked the first three of the main reasons for the emergency surgery death of multiple injuries. Heart-lung machine support, trachea cannula and closed drainage of thoracic cavity ranked the first three of the main reasons for the death of thoracic trauma. Moreover, ARDS, fracture of sternum and flail chest ranked the first three of the main reasons for the death of other multiple injuries. All the casualties had the worst situation with high ISS scores. The main death reasons were cerebral wound, peritoneum viscera injuries and the four limbs and pelvis injuries. Besides, the severe thoracic trauma accelerated their death. Conclusion Main death reasons for the inpatients with multiple injuries combined with thoracic trauma are hemorrhagic shock and severe cerebral wound. The thoracic trauma degree will increase the risk of their death. The more the injury positions, the higher ISS scores, and the more serious thoracic trauma, the higher mortality rate. Rapid examination and diagnosis, rapied triage and distribution of thoracic trauma can help to create more chances for the further treatment and increase the success rate of rescue.
In recent years，West China Hospital of Sichuan University actively participated in medical assistance and rescue in Wenchuan，Yushu and Lushan earthquakes. However，professional roles of cardiovascular surgeons in medical assistance and rescue in earthquakes remain unclear because of the particularity of cardiovascular surgery, which often affects the assembly of medical assistance and rescue teams. Thus，we need to explore the necessity for cardiovascular surgeons to join medical rescue teams within 72 hours after earthquake. In this article，medical rescue work of cardiovascular surgeons within 72 hours after 2008 “5?12” Wenchuan earthquake and 2013 “4?20” Lushan earthquake is analyzed and compared to identify professional roles of cardiovascular surgeons in medical rescue within 72 hours after earthquake. It is necessary for cardiovascular surgeons to join medical rescue teams within 72 hours after earthquake.
Objective To provide references for production and dissemination of evidence in the fields of medical emergency management, treatment, and prevention of epidemics after May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake by systematically reviewing, analyzing, and comparing quake related papers in medical journals. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature) databases (range: from inception to Sept. 2009). Quake related papers were imported into EndNote software, checked for duplication, and categorized by predefined standards. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0. Results There were relatively fewer quake related articles globally before the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake, and the quantity of papers in MEDLINE was four times than that in CBM. In contrast, the quantity of Chinese quake articles increased rapidly after Wenchuan earthquake, peaking in Aug. 2008 at 6.9 times the average during the 50 years before the quake. The quake related papers in CBM appeared in 378 journals covering a diverse range of subject matter. Meanwhile, there was little change in the quantity of quake related articles in MEDLINE database. Conclusions The effort of producing and disseminating Wenchuan earthquake related medical research has been effectively organized and conducted in a scientific and timely manner, producing the largest in number of quake related medical papers in human history. It has provided first-hand guidance for disaster medical relief around the globe. We should strengthen the systematic construction of disaster medicine, and make an effort to summarize and disseminate evidence in the fields of rehabilitation, system reestablishment, and prevention of epidemics.
After the May 12th Wenchuan earthquake, the Department of Architecture and Operation of West China Hospital took prompt action to examine the damage of the hospital buildings. And then experts were invited to perform a safety evaluation of all the hospital buildings. Meanwhile, a real-time monitoring system was initiated to identify any subsequent damage caused by after-shocks. In timely response to the clinical demand, potential dangers were removed so as to ensure the medical rescue work for the wounded.
Objective To investigate the curative effect of facility negative pressure closed drainage on wounds in earthquake. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 35 patients treated by facility negative pressure closed drainage after debridement in earthquake. The same category patients treated by conventional therapy as the control group. Results Time of facility negative pressure closed drainage was 6-12 days, average 7.5±1.8 days. The woundswere all cured. The wounds closure were performed with skin grafting in 24, with secondary suturing in 4, with regionalflap transposition in 5, and with cross leg flap in 2. There were significant differences in time of secondary closure, timesof dressing and the total time of hospitalization between two groups (Plt;0.01). And there was a significant difference incurative effect of skin grafting between two groups (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Facility negative pressure closed drainage on treating wounds in earthquake is a simple, safe method, and has significant curative effect.
Objective To discuss the mode of triage patient in Emergency Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University after the Wenchuan earthquake and the major experience during the process. Method The patients’ severity level of injury and waiting time for medical care in Emergency Department were analyzed after earthquake in 2 weeks. Result 375 patients were triaged into the severity level and get the treatment followed the triage systems gave the highest rate of survival and lowest rate of over triage and under triage. Conclusion In the calamity of Wenchuan earthquake with large number of casualties, Emergency Department automatically shifted into disaster mode and triage victims by the irregular triage systems. In this situation, medical staff do not just triage the patients to the Emergency Department or to see a doctor, but triage the victims to the medical care immediately and efficiently. By the new triage system, the West China Hospital saves more lives in less time.
