ABSTRACT
Trauma patients form a heterogeneous group who have suffered tissue damage from exposure to some form of energy. The most common denominator in any trauma patient is bleeding. This could be external or internal bleeding. Neuronal damage and direct damage to chest, abdominal viscera all significantly modify the outcome of trauma, independently and along with physiological changes associated with bleeding. Over 50 per cent of trauma patient's mortality in the first hour results from traumatic brain injury. Traditionally accepted markers of physiological status of the patient are used for monitoring the patient's condition in most situations. These include pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature and in a head injury patient the level of consciousness of the patient. However, monitoring parameters in the field situation and taking steps to correct them are difficult because changes in physiological parameters in the body are closely linked to multiple organ systems. No system can be taken in isolation.
