Well-founded protocols such as the ATLS can help provide the preparation health professionals need. In our hospital environment, ATLS training has helped to reduce preventable or potentially preventable mortality among trauma patients.

This is the first attempt to determine the prevalence of errors in surgery. Introducing systematic programs for recording adverse events can reduce error rates and promote a culture of patient safety in a General Surgery Department.

No abstract

The control systems of risk allow us continuous evaluation of our results and objective comparison to other teams. Compared with the POSSUM scoring systems, our series showed quality improvement (morbidity and mortality) over time.

The quality of life score improves during the first year after major trauma. However, it does not return to the reference levels for the normal population. Female gender and age ≥ 55 years are statistically significant determinants of poorer EQvas and EQus.