The surgical and obstetrical activity at the ICRC Field Hospital in Banda Aceh in the aftermath of the tsunami 2004

Abstract

Objectives: The tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused death and devastation along the whole coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in cooperation with the Indonesian Red Cross, set up a complete multidisciplinary 100‐bed field hospital in the city of Banda Aceh to function as a temporary facility to substitute for damaged health care structures pending final reconstruction. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the specific pattern of injuries caused by the tsunami but also to describe the surgical and obstetrical problems treated in the absence of a functioning health care system. Methodology: All patients admitted to the surgical or obstetrical wards between 16 January and 10 March 2005 were registered by name, age, diagnosis and surgical or obstetrical procedure. Postoperative complications and special problems caused by the tsunami or by the field hospital conditions was recorded. Results: During the period a total number of 355 surgical interventions we...