‘First hour post trauma seals patient’s fate’

GOLDEN HOUR In emergency care, first 60 minutes can make the difference between life and death, say experts

LUCKNOW: Underlining the importance of prompt action in case of trauma patients needing urgent care, Dr Rama Kant, former chief medical superintendent of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) said at a function here on Sunday that such patients must reach a well-equipped medical facility within the first 60 minutes (golden hour) for best treatment outcomes.

Dr Rama Kant said trauma-related injuries were one of the leading causes of untimely deaths. Trauma was time-sensitive, where delay in definitive care of a few minutes may mean the difference between life or death and one of the most fundamental tenets of trauma care was the ‘golden hour’, he said.

The term ‘golden hour’ was coined to emphasise the importance of providing definitive care to trauma patients as quickly as possible. As critically injured patients were more vulnerable to death during this period, it was proposed that trauma patients had at the most one hour from the time of the incident to receive definitive care before morbidity and mortality increased significantly, he said.

“The transportation time to a larger hospital for rural patients can greatly surpass the ‘golden hour’. It is generally accepted that a trauma patient shows improved outcomes if he reaches definitive care as soon as possible. Studies have shown that a person’s chance of survival following trauma drops significantly if medical or surgical intervention isn’t given within 60 minutes,” said Dr Rama Kant.

During the function, Dr Rama Kant received a mobile medical van as president of Lions Club Lucknow Century, from Delhibased Aruna Abhey Oswal Trust. Aruna Abhey Oswal who leads the trust commended Lucknow citizens who came forward to arrange medical van help to those in need.