New publication: ICRC War Surgery

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Dear colleagues,



The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral
and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to
protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other
situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.



One of the major domains of activity of the ICRC is care for war wounded. We
are pleased to present to you Volume 1 of *"War Surgery: working with
limited resources in armed conflict and other situations of violence"*. This
new publication describes the ICRC approach to surgical programmes for the
victims of war.



The philosophy behind this approach is based on the simple proposition that
surgery for war wounded takes place in an austere environment and what is
appropriate in one context does not necessarily apply to another. The key to
operational success is to define the correct – appropriate – response to a
given situation.



The diagnostic and therapeutic means available differ widely from one
country's medical services to another, and even among different regions in
the same country. Sometimes, the technology is relatively sophisticated and
trained staff numerous. In other contexts, often the case where the ICRC
works, what is appropriate is often a question of making the best of very
limited resources. One can readily appreciate the differences between the
medical services of the army of an industrialized country and the public
hospitals of a low-income country, whose resources are stretched thin even
in peacetime, caught up in a civil war.



This new publication does *not *describe "cutting-edge" science. This is
neither practical nor relevant in situations where such modern basics as
efficient pre-hospital care, mechanical ventilation, and blood components
are not routinely available, and diagnostic imaging is limited to plain
X-rays.



The clinical protocols and techniques described are geared to the level of
knowledge and practice of *general surgeons in a rural hospital in a
low-income country.* These surgeons are often the first to see the wounded
in armed conflict under circumstances where referral to a hospital with more
sophisticated facilities and surgical sub-specialties – far away in an
inaccessible capital city – is impractical or impossible. They must be able
to "do it all".



ICRC experience has shown that a great deal can be accomplished for the war
wounded by using very simple, but scientifically adequate and appropriate,
means. This approach has proven to be very cost effective, especially
important in a country with limited financial resources where every penny
spent on curative care is at the expense of preventive measures.



French, Spanish and Russian translations are planned, and copies may be
ordered through the ICRC website: www.icrc.org (Resources, Publications,
Assistance, War Surgery). A downloadable pdf file is available.



We hope that some of you may find this publication of interest.





Christos Giannou                                                      Marco
Baldan

Senior Surgeon                                                         Chief
Surgeon


-- 
christos giannou
Monemvasia Lakonia
23070 Greece
tel & fax: (++30) 27320-61772
mob: (++30) 69 74 83 28 18

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