Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) Update: What Every Anesthesiologist Should Know

Trauma is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of death in patients under the age of 44 years. One person dies from injury every 3 minutes (Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww. com/ASA/A489). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that falls are now the leading cause of all traumatic injury, because of the aging population, followed by motor vehicle collisions and penetrating trauma. Violent trauma, including assaults firearm injuries, and suicides, are increasing. Deaths due to homicide from gun violence are rising, specifically in African American men and in metropolitan areas. The risk of death after injury is significantly lower when patients are treated at trauma centers compared with nontrauma hospitals. This is in part due to the 24/7 staffing of experts in the field of trauma care. Anesthesiologists are key partners in the resuscitation, operative management, and intensive care of the injured.