Revised Trauma Score
Encyclopedia
The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is a tool for on-site triage
for Multiple Casualty Incidents. Its superior efficiency is due to both speed and objectivity. It is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment for medical professionals of any field.
, Systolic
Blood Pressure, and respiratory rate. All of these results can be quickly assessed with minimal equipment: a flashlight
, a watch and a sphygmomanometer
since systolic pressure can be obtained through arterial palpation
. The score range is 0-12. In START
triage
, a patient with an RTS score of 12 is labeled DELAYED (walking wounded), 11 is URGENT (intervention is required but the patient can wait a short time), and 10-3 is IMMEDIATE (immediate intervention is necessary). The last possible label is MORGUE, which is given to seriously injured people with an RTS score of 3 or lower. These people should not receive certain care because they are unlikely to survive. The reasoning is that diverting scarce resources away from people with a little chance of survival increases the chances of survival of others who are inherently more likely to survive.
Triage
Triage or ) is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate,...
for Multiple Casualty Incidents. Its superior efficiency is due to both speed and objectivity. It is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment for medical professionals of any field.
RTS and Triage
The Revised Trauma Score is made up of a combination of results from three categories: Glasgow Coma ScaleGlasgow Coma Scale
Glasgow Coma Scale or GCS is a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent assessment...
, Systolic
Systole (medicine)
Systole is the contraction of the heart. Used alone, it usually means the contraction of the left ventricle.In all mammals, the heart has 4 chambers. The left and right ventricles pump together. The atria and ventricles pump in sequence...
Blood Pressure, and respiratory rate. All of these results can be quickly assessed with minimal equipment: a flashlight
Flashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
, a watch and a sphygmomanometer
Sphygmomanometer
A sphygmomanometer or blood pressure meter is a device used to measure blood pressure, comprising an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, and a mercury or mechanical manometer to measure the pressure. It is always used in conjunction with a means to determine at what pressure blood flow is just...
since systolic pressure can be obtained through arterial palpation
Palpation
Palpation is used as part of a physical examination in which an object is felt to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location...
. The score range is 0-12. In START
Simple triage and rapid treatment
Simple triage and rapid treatment is a method used by first responders to effectively and efficiently evaluate all of the victims during a mass casualty incident . The first-arriving medical personnel will use a triage tool called a triage tag to categorize the victims by the severity of their...
triage
Triage
Triage or ) is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate,...
, a patient with an RTS score of 12 is labeled DELAYED (walking wounded), 11 is URGENT (intervention is required but the patient can wait a short time), and 10-3 is IMMEDIATE (immediate intervention is necessary). The last possible label is MORGUE, which is given to seriously injured people with an RTS score of 3 or lower. These people should not receive certain care because they are unlikely to survive. The reasoning is that diverting scarce resources away from people with a little chance of survival increases the chances of survival of others who are inherently more likely to survive.