Sahloul Mohammed Z, Monla-Hassan Jaber, Sankari Abdulghani, Kherallah Mazen, Atassi Bassel, Badr Safwan, Abbara Aula, Sparrow Annie
1 Pulmonary and Critical Care, Christ Advocate Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Illinois.
2 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2016 Feb;13(2):147-55. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201510-661PS.
The Syrian crisis, now in its fifth year, has created an unprecedented strain on health services and systems due to the protracted nature of the warfare, the targeting of medics and health care infrastructure, the exodus of physicians and nurses, the shortage of medical supplies and medications, and the disruption of medical education and training. Within a few short years, the life expectancy of resident Syrians has declined by 20 years. Over the first 4 years of the conflict, more than 75,000 civilians died from injuries incurred in the violence. More than twice as many civilians, including many women and children, have died prematurely of infectious and noninfectious chronic diseases for want of adequate health care. Doctors, local administrators, and nongovernmental organizations are struggling to manage the consequences of the conflict under substandard conditions, often using unorthodox methods of health care delivery in field hospitals and remotely by telehealth communication. Much-needed medical supplies are channeled through dangerous routes across the borders from Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Physicians in the United States and other western nations have helped Syrian physicians make the most of the situation by providing training on introducing innovations in technology and treatment. Portable ultrasound machines have been introduced and are being used extensively in the management of trauma and shock. This report, prepared by members of the Syrian American Medical Society, documents current needs for health care relief within Syria, focusing on pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and some of the efforts currently underway to meet those needs.
叙利亚危机现已进入第五个年头,由于战争旷日持久、医护人员和医疗基础设施成为攻击目标、医生和护士外流、医疗用品和药品短缺以及医学教育与培训中断,给医疗卫生服务和系统造成了前所未有的压力。短短几年内,叙利亚居民的预期寿命下降了20岁。在冲突的头4年里,超过7.5万名平民死于暴力造成的伤害。因缺乏足够的医疗保健,包括许多妇女和儿童在内的两倍多平民过早死于传染病和非传染性慢性病。医生、地方管理人员和非政府组织正在艰难应对在不合标准的条件下冲突带来的后果,经常在野战医院采用非传统的医疗服务方式,并通过远程医疗通信在偏远地区提供服务。急需的医疗用品通过从黎巴嫩、约旦和土耳其穿越边境的危险路线运输。美国和其他西方国家的医生通过提供技术和治疗创新方面的培训,帮助叙利亚医生充分利用现有条件。便携式超声机已被引入并广泛用于创伤和休克的治疗。这份由叙利亚裔美国医学会成员撰写的报告记录了叙利亚境内当前的医疗救助需求,重点关注肺部疾病、重症监护和睡眠医学,以及目前为满足这些需求所做的一些努力。