Evaluation of Earthquake Victims Admitted to an Emergency Department in Izmir Following a Major Earthquake Occurring More Than 1000 Kilometers Away

Authors : Efe Kanter, Mehmet Göktuğ Efgan, Elif Kaymaz, Süleyman Kırık, Semih Musa Coşkun

Pages : 76-82

View : 22 | Download : 14

Publication Date : 2025-04-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: The major earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, caused widespread destruction in the southern and south eastern regions of Turkey. This study evaluates how a distant earthquake affects emergency healthcare services over 1000 kilometers. Material and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzes the demographic and clinical characteristics of 165 patients with the ICD code X34—Earthquake Victim—who presented to a tertiary emergency department in Izmir following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. The patients\\\' presentation times, medical histories, types of trauma, presence of Crush syndrome, and the treatments administered were examined. Additionally, the relationship between the need for hemodialysis and surgical intervention with the time of presentation was evaluated. Results: The average age of the patients was 48 years, with 56.4% being female and 43.6% male. Hemodialysis was performed in 9.7% and surgical intervention was performed in 18.2% of the patients. These needs were found to be associated with earlier presentations. Additionally, a significant portion of these patients was diagnosed with Crush syndrome and related complications. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of early intervention and a multidisciplinary approach following earthquakes. Severe injuries, particularly those related to Crush syndrome, limb fractures, and emergency hemodialysis, are associated with better outcomes when managed promptly and in a coordinated manner. These findings highlight the critical importance of rapid medical response even in distant centers following major earthquakes.
Keywords : crush sendromu, afet yönetimi, deprem, hemodiyaliz