Integration of Military Unit and Civilian Hospital During Mass Casualty Situation: Experience During the 1982 Lebanon War

Abstract

In June 1982, during the Lebanon War, it became necessary to reinforce a regional civilian hospital in order to handle mass casualties. A military mobile surgical hospital moved into the civilian hospital and assumed responsibility for the triage, resuscitation and evacuation of the wounded. The civilian hospital was converted into an evacuation hospital while all the time continuing its normal functions. About 400 wounded were handled. Three percent required life saving surgery, 82 percent were evacuated to rear hospitals and 14 percent were hospitalized. Some principles of operation emerged to effect integration of a military medical unit and a civilian hospital, and these are discussed.