Nationwide trauma registry planned

A team of scientists is planning to set up a research and information-gathering centre about the causes, treatment and recovery rate of patients with trauma to cut the death toll and improve patient care.

It would model itself on the test registry department at Al Ain Hospital but would serve the entire country.

The team of scientists say Pakistanis, Indians and UAE nationals are most at risk of being involved in a serious accident in Al Ain.

Trauma resulting from accidents is the second biggest killer in the UAE, causing 17 per cent of deaths among people under the age of 40 each year.

The four-member team comprises Fikri Abu Zaidan, from the Department of Surgery, Sami Shaban, Department of Medical Education at the Faculty of Medicines and Health Sciences, and Mazen Ashour and Masoud Bashir who both represent the Department of Surgery at Al Ain Hospital.

The effects of trauma were highlighted in a research paper, presented at the fifth Annual Research Conference of the UAE University.

From March 15 to September 15 last year, Al Ain Hospital dealt with 503 patients with trauma of which 439 were male (87 per cent) and 64 females (13 per cent). Seventy-nine (15.7 per cent) were under the age of 16.

A staggering 83.5 per cent were UAE nationals followed by Pakistanis (19.7 per cent), Indians (19.1 per cent) and Bangladeshis (9.9 per cent). Some 39 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit while nine patients were pronounced dead on arrival.

The paper added that 34 per cent of injuries were caused by road accidents while 26 per cent were work related, indicating that health and safety standards in the workplace have improved.

The study revealed that many injuries took place between midday and 9pm or when workers changed shifts. "Our next step is to establish a nationwide trauma registry using a general web-based database," the paper said.

The Surgical Advisory Committee of the health ministry and a team of experts from the American College of Surgeons held a six-day training course for physicians in trauma care.

The training scheme will help reduce trauma deaths by at least 30 per cent.

Dr Abdul Gaffar Mohammed Al Hawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Curative Medicines, said the course, known as Advanced Trauma Life Support, would improve doctors skills in caring for trauma victims and reducing their morbidity and mortality rates.