Pre-hospital intercostal chest drains in South Africa: A modified Delphi study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Trauma is one of the most common causes of death in low- and middle-income countries, with thoracic injury accounting for 20-25% of these deaths worldwide. The current management of a life-threatening pre-hospital pneumothorax is with a needle chest decompression, however, definitive care for a pneumothorax and/or haemothorax is still the insertion of an intercostal chest drain. The aim of this study was to seek expert opinion and consensus on the placement of ICDs in the pre-hospital emergency care setting in South Africa.

Methods

A three-round modified Delphi study was undertaken with an expert panel drawn from local emergency care experts consisting of physicians and emergency medical service practitioners. Participants supplied opinion statements in round 1

SUBMITTER: Dippenaar E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6543074 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature