Objective To assess the public health impacts and needs, to evaluate performance of anti-epidemic efforts after Lushan earthquake, so as to provide references for the following anti-epidemic work. Methods The day of earthquake occurrence was defined as the first day after earthquake. We collected information and data from the Sichuan Provincial Government, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China, the Health Department of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and then we compared the situations of disaster, public health situation in stricken area, emergency response, resource deployment, etc. with those after Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, in order to evaluate the performance of anti-epidemic response during 2 weeks, clarify current situations and demands, and offer a proposal for the following work. Results Emergency response was conducted immediately after the Lushan earthquake. The counterpart assistance was considered at the beginning of team arrangement. The number and professional structure of rescue participants were planned according to needs. Three days after earthquake, anti-epidemic staff arrived at every involved county, town, and even village, which achieved full rescue coverage of locations and interventions. The staff helped reconstruct disease surveillance system, protect source of drinking water and environmental hygiene, etc., which resulted in progressive achievement. Two weeks after the earthquake there were no outbreak and public health emergency event occurred in stricken area. Conclusion The anti-epidemic efforts after Lushan earthquake inherit and develop the lessons from Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. Emergency response is timely, orderly, scientific, and moderate. The deployment of policies, technologies and resources has already been completed during two weeks. Anti-epidemic efforts achieve preliminary results. We suggest that key issues of further work should be the implementation of policies, strategies and measures, such as health management at relocation sites, water and food hygiene, disease monitoring, prevention and control, mass vaccination, scientific disinfection, and health education, in order to improve long-efficacy mechanism and stabilize work performance.
Objective To explore the influence of two emergency reception and triages workflows between Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes on the victim’s length of stay in emergency department of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Methods A total of 65 victims admitted in the West China Hospital within 12 hours after Lushan earthquake were retrospectively analyzed, and their diagnosis and treatment information and the length of stay in emergency department were collected and compared with those of the victims in Wenchuan earthquake. Then we analyzed the influence of two emergency reception and triage workflows on the length of stay of the batches of earthquake victims. Results For the Lushan earthquake victims, the median length of stay in the emergency reception and triage workflow was 0.51 hour, while that was 2.13 hours for the Wenchuan earthquake victims, with a significant difference (Plt;0.05). Conclusion The emergency reception and triage workflow for Lushan earthquake victims is a summarized experience and improvement based on that for Wenchuan earthquake, which can be used as references for treating batches of victims in the emergency department after a disaster.
Objective To explore the allocation of necessary living goods for the emergency medical rescue teams at Lushan earthquake sites. Methods The living goods requirements of 59 emergency medical rescue members at Lushan earthquake sites were investigated using a questionnaire and then analyzed, in order to provide references for the allocation of necessary living goods for emergency medical rescue teams in future. Results The top five necessary living goods for emergency medical rescue members at earthquake sites were food, drinking water, toilet, communication product, and bedclothe. The needs of bath of the members who stayed longer than 3 days were more than the members who stayed shorter than 3 days, with a significant difference (Plt;0.05). The number of living goods that female members need were more than that male members need (Plt;0.05). Conclusion For improving the work efficiency and quality of life, emergency medical rescue teams need to be equipped with not only the medical supplies, but also necessary living goods based on the length of stay and the ratio between male and female.
Objective To analyze the injury characteristics and the rescue process and effects for the victims admitted in the People’s Hospital of Deyang City within 72 hours after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, so as to discuss how to adopt the emergency program to implement medical rescue in disaster relief. Methods The data of 25 earthquake victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to April 23rd, 2013 were collected to analyze age, gender, the location of injury, the injury state of different age groups, and the prognosis of victims. Results Of the 25 victims with injuries on 32 locations of the body, there were 20 cases with single injury (80.00%) and 5 cases with multiple injuries (20.00%). Most injuries were seen in four limbs, body surface, and soft tissues; and the incidence of single injury was higher than that of multiple injuries. The number of admitted victims was largest on the first day after earthquake, accounted for 92.00%, which was obviously higher than that on the second and the third day. Victims aged from 19 to 45 years old was more than those of other ages. Conclusion Scientific emergency command system and disaster emergency program play an high-efficient command role in disaster rescue, shorten the time of emergency response, and improve the ability of disaster rescue. The comprehensive capacity of self-rescue and well-organized rescue for disaster area can be improved as long as the general public is educated about the disaster emergency program and cooperative emergency drill. Meanwhile, smooth traffic and unobstructed communication are guaranteed in the disaster area, and the cooperative efforts are made by all walks of society.
Objective To comparatively analyze the rationality of emergency medication after Wenchuan earthquake with that after Lushan earthquake in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, based on the use of medicine of the victim’s disease spectrum. Method By using Excel, defined daily dose system (DDDs) and drug utilization index (DUI) were used as the evaluation indexes to analyze the rationality of emergency medication in West China Hospital of Sichuan University within one month after Wenchuan earthquake and Lushan earthquake. Results Within one month after Wenchuan and Lushan earthquake, there were 1 839 and 488 victims treated in the hospital, respectively. Within one month after the two earthquakes, the variation tendency of DDDs of drugs and number of victims was consistent, and the consistency was better in Lushan earthquake than that in Wenchuan earthquake. Among the 60 drugs which DDDs were ranked top five in their pharmacological class (top ten for antimicrobials) in Wenchuan earthquake, the majority of them were injections (injections vs. non-injections: 70.0% vs. 30.0%); the results showed that the medication (DUI=1) only accounted for 10.0%, the medication (DUI<1) accounted for 28.3%, which implied that the use of drugs was insufficient, the medication (DUI>1) accounted for 61.7%, which implied that drugs were overused; the average of DUI was 1.61. And in Lushan earthquake, injections also accounted for a larger proportion than non-injections (63.3%vs. 36.7%); the results showed that the medication (DUI=1) accounted for 15.0%, the medication (DUI<1) accounted for 38.3%, the medication (DUI>1) accounted for 46.7%; the average of DUI was 1.30. Conclusions Base on the DUI, we draw the conclusion that the rationality of emergency drug use and the timeliness of emergency drug supply were better in Lushan earthquake than those in Wenchuan earthquake. But the rationality of using the DUI, which is an evaluation index for normal conditions, to evaluate the emergency conditions still needs to be further verified.
Objective To evaluate the performance of emergency medical rescue (EMR) within 1 month after Lushan earthquake, and to prove and enrich the experience from Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide useful references for global earthquake EMR with regard to decreasing death and disability rates. Methods All the following date published within 1 month after 4.20 Lushan earthquake were collected and analyzed, including official information, public documents, news release, relevant information from websites and victims’ medical records in the West China Hospital, then the relevant domestic and foreign literature about EMR (including EMR of Wenchuan earthquake). And then comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of EMR in Lushan earthquake. Results a) Being 87 km apart from each other, the main seismic zones of Lushan and Wenchuan located in the south west and middle north of Longmenshan fault zone, respectively. Although only 1 earthquake magnitude differed between them, the disaster area, and the number of affected population, deaths, disappearances, injured, severe injured and migration population in Wenchuan earthquake were 40, 23, 353, 853, 27, 14 and 51 times higher than those in Lushan earthquake, respectively. b) Learned from Wenchuan experience, the manpower scheduling in Lushan earthquake was quicker: the assembled medical personnel peak of Lushan vs. Wenchuan was 87.62% vs. 56.06 % in golden 72 hours post-quake. c) Supplies scheduling was more rational: the utilization rate was higher under the guidance of accurate information of demand. d) Medical treatment was more rational and efficient: the critical injured were treated following “Four concentration treatment principles”; saving life and restoring function at the same time; treatment and physical-mental rehabilitation at the same time; treatment and evidence production and implementation at the same time. e) Medical institutions and service returned to normal in time: 96.7% (440/455) of government owned township medical institutions in 21 affected towns returned to normal and provided medical services at their original sites. Conclusion By learning form Wenchuan experience, the following performance is implemented in Lushan earthquake: medical rescue guided by the accurate information; supplies scheduling guided by the accurate demand; both critical injured treatment,and physical-mental rehabilitation guided by the accurate assessment of injuries. So the medical rescue within 1 month after Lushan earthquake is quicker, more rational and efficient. After 20 days post quake zero death of critical injured was achieved. The early physical-mental rehabilitation fastens the functional reconstruction of the injured and helps them return to the society. So it suggests that the Lushan EMR enriches and develops the reference value of EMR experience of Wenchuan earthquake.
Objective To report the screening, prevention and treatment of venous thrombosis for Lushan earthquake victims in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Methods Among the Lushan earthquake victims screened by vascular color Doppler, those with detected venous thrombosis were treated reasonably, and those without detected venous thrombosis were prevented early. Results There were total 235 Lushan earthquake victims in the hospital as of the 11th day after earthquake, and they were screened by vascular color Doppler. Among 26 cases with detected venous thrombosis, 25 were lower limb venous thrombosis, and the other one was upper limb venous thrombosis. Three cases were treated by rehabilitation intervention alone, three cases were treated by drug intervention alone, and the other 20 cases were treated by both rehabilitation and drug intervention. As of 30 days after the earthquake, the reexamination results of 26 victims with venous thrombosis showed that: 11 cases improved, including 5 completely recanalization and 6 incompletely recanalization. Among the three cases with drug intervention alone, one got completely recanalization, accounted for 33.33%. Among the three cases with rehabilitation intervention alone, one got incompletely recanalization, accounted for 33.33%. Among the 20 cases with both rehabilitation and drug intervention, four got completely recanalization, accounted for 20.0%, and five got incompletely recanalization, accounted for 25.0%. Conclusion Most Lushan earthquake victims with venous thrombosis are the elderly and women, stay in the ICU, and suffer from fractures in different degrees. The timely prevention and treatment can relieve local pain, promote early entry in the rehabilitation treatment, and prevent pulmonary embolism and other risks. The rehabilitation intervention and/or drug intervention should be adopted to the victims with detected venous thrombosis as well as the victims without detected venous thrombosis but have high risk factors, for it can effectively prevent and treat the further thrombosis and other bad consequences of the detachment of thrombus.
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 collect the clinical data of victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University within 2 weeks after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, and to analyze their clinical characteristics and effects of early rehabilitation, so as to provide baseline data for rescue TBI victims with the early rehabilitation treatment during emergency medical rescue. Methods A total of 392 victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to May 3rd, 2013 were screened, of which the TBI victims were clinically assessed and treated with early rehabilitation. Then both the activities of daily living (ADL) and the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Recovery Scale (RLA) before and after the treatment were analyzed. The data were input by Excel software, and the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS softwar. Results A total of 51 TBI victims at age from 3 to 84 years old were included finally. The categories of TBI included subarachnoid hemorrhage (41.2%), intracranial hematoma (33.3%) and mixed type (33.3%), and the severity were associated with the type of TBI. The GCS score of cerebral concussion was higher (13.25 ± 0.62) while that of the diffuse axonal injury was lower (4.50 ± 0.71). All victims (100%) had limited ADL, 74.51% had cognitive dysfunction, 9.80% had speech disorder, and 7.84% had dysphagia. After the early rehabilitation treatment, both ADL (before treatment: 34.82 ± 58.29, after treatment: 69.63 ± 22.29) and RLA (pre-treatment: 4.16 ± 1.24, treatment: 7.20 ± 1.69) were obviously higher than those before treatment, with statistical differences (both P lt;0.05). Conclusion The TBI categories of Lushan earthquake victims are various and mixed, and the severity associated with the type of TBI. All TBI victims are accompanied with more clinical problems and functional limitation. Early rehabilitation treatment is safe and effective to improve ADL and RLA as well.
Objective To analyze the costs of emergency medication in the West China Hospital within one month after Lushan earthquake based on actual medication of the victims’ disease spectrum. Methods We collected emergency medication data as evaluation index in the West China Hospital within one month after Lushan earthquake, including daily cost, cumulative percentage of pharmacology category, average cost per day/person, average cost per day/person when DUI=1, difference between average cost per day /person, and average cost per day/person when DUI=1, etc. Then, we input data using Excel software for statistically analyzing the costs of emergency medication within one month after the earthquake. Results During one month after the earthquake, the costs changed consistently with the number of victims, which implied the change of costs was rational. Injuries were classified into 6 categories and 12 kinds according to ICD-10. The costs of medication accounted for 71% of the total costs. Six kinds of illness accounted for 21%. Medication for injuries was classified into 3 categories and 18 kinds; average cost per day was 186.87 yuan and average cost per person was 1 702.70 yuan. Medication for illness was classified into 5 categories and 28 kinds; average cost per day was 38.96 yuan and average cost per person was 185.13 yuan. The mean value of average cost per day/person of injection was 14.52/5.08 times more than that of non-injection. Meanwhile, the mean value of average cost per day/person of imported medication was 7.10/5.28 times more than that of domestic medication. Conclusion The factors that impact the medication costs include: a) disease burden and traumatic conditions of the sick and wound; b) administration pathway (injection vs. non-injection); c) imported or domestic medication; and d) the rationality of taking DUI as evaluation index. When DUIgt;1, injection through the vein and imported medication take a larger share which increase the costs of medication. Emergency rescue package should mainly prepare for the injury. In order to ensure the timely, safe and effective medication, injection should be given priority to. We also should take into consideration crash-resistance/anti-quake package, reasonable dosage, convenience-to-use of drugs as well as the needs of the illness.