ABSTRACT
The modern approach to the trauma patient is based on the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program of the American College of Surgeons. The ATLS program was designed for highincome countries (HICs) and establishes both a protocol of care and a common language for all providers. The goal of care is transport of “the right patient to the right place at the right time.” In other words, the patient should be transported as rapidly as possible to a hospital with clinical capabilities suitable to care for the patient’s particular injuries. Unfortunately, most trauma patients in the developing world do not have access to hospitals with advanced trauma care capability, if they have access to a hospital at all. Transport may take hours to days. The relevance of ATLS to low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) has therefore recently been questioned.1 Nevertheless, mastery of the principles of ATLS provides the individual with an organized approach, which can be modified based on the clinician’s specific training, experience, and available resources.
