The updated German “Polytrauma – Guideline”: an extensive literature evaluation and treatment recommendation for the care of the critically injured patient

Excerpt

In 2014, the German Trauma Society initiated the update of the “Clinical Practice Guideline on the Treatment of the Severely Injured”, representing an extensive revision after the initial guideline published in 2012 [ 1]. The aim of the guideline is to provide the latest evidence on the management of the severely injured patient and to improve the outcome of trauma patients. The guideline was established in an extensive process over 2 years with the support of 20 medical societies involved in the treatment of severely injured patients and published in German language in summer 2016 [ 2]. The guideline was developed according to the methodology defined by the Board of Medical Societies (AWMF, Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany, which affiliates 175 Scientific Societies from all specialties of medicine in Germany). This S3 guideline fulfills the highest level of standard of this organization [ 3]. The guideline is evidence based, was consented by the representatives of all participating medical societies and is now translated into English in 2018 in this issue [ 4] to provide guidance to the international trauma care community. …