[Organization of medical services for the victims of the earthquake in the city of Spitak, Armenian S.S.R].

Sanitary losses in the city of Spitak were about 47.8%, injures of the middle and critical degree being diagnosed in 9.5%. During the first period (from December 9 to 14, 1988) patients admitted to the hospitals predominantly had traumas of the head, chest, extremities, vertebral column (86.3%). The crush syndrome and position compressions and their combinations with total cooling during this time were diagnosed in 61 victims (19%), and during the whole period of work--in 63 (7.6%). Success of treatment of the patients with this pathology was promoted by their having obtained qualified surgical and anesthesiological aid before evacuation to medical institutions of the Center in full value in combination with temporary admittance to the hospital at an average for 12-18 hours up to complete arrest of shock. During the first steps of evacuation the amputation of extremities was fulfilled in 3 cases.