Panaji, September 12 – Sixteen doctors, including allopathy professionals and dentists, from India and abroad were certified in a course specially designed to manage emergencies, especially accident-related trauma, which is globally endorsed as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) at the Healthway Hospitals in Old Goa.
ATLS protocols are considered the gold standard in the management of trauma all around the world. It is very much relevant to Goa, where fatal accidents have been rife over the last few months.
Apart from head injuries, the major injuries incurred in accidental deaths on Goan roads include those from chest trauma, abdominal injuries, spinal fractures, and limb and pelvic fractures. Nearly one person has died every day in a road accident in Goa during the first four months of 2023 according to official records.
The ATLS course, adopted in over 80 countries, has certified over one million doctors (MBBS and BDS) in the management of injured patients in the critical initial period after the accident which is referred to as ‘the golden hour’.
The emergency procedures adopted by medical professionals during the ‘the golden hour’ after accidents include airway management with cervical spine motion restriction, breathing with ventilation, circulation with haemorrhage control, disability, environment and exposure, among other elements.
Over 180 doctors have been trained in ATLS protocol at Healthway Hospitals so far, significantly improving their approach to trauma care, and resulting in improved patient outcomes.
The ATLS Course is copyrighted by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Indian Chapter (ATLS India) is headed by Prof. M. C. Misra, Ex-Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, ex-chief of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC) AIIMS, New Delhi and Chair ATLS India.
The course for medical professionals runs over three days and includes a series of interactive discussions, hands-on training on mannequins and includes an examination at the end. Successful candidates are conferred an ATLS Provider Certificate that is valid worldwide. The course is currently in its 10th edition.
Healthway Hospitals in Goa is the 9th among the 28 officially approved sites for ATLS courses in India. The course directors for the 13th ATLS course held on the 7th,8th, & 9th were Dr. Divya Narain Upadhyaya, Professor, Plastic Surgery Department at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow and Dr. Mohit Joshi, additional professor Department of Surgery from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Vice Chancellor of Goa University, Prof. Harilal B Menon, who was present at the valedictory function of the ATLS protocol course said: “There is a need for such training programs in view of increasing trauma cases, particularly road traffic accidents which not only contribute to a high mortality amongst the youth but also have a devastating effect on the productive age group due to life-long morbidities”.
