AIIMS, University of Michigan to open research centre

The Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and University of Michigan have come together to promote research in the field of trauma care.

A research institute called the International Institute for Injury Research will come up in Delhi as a result of joint venture between the two.

“The research in trauma is very less globally while the concerns are increasing world-over. Eighty per cent of the trauma cases occur in developing countries. Authorities in the University of Michigan and the AIIMS trauma centre saw common interest in trauma care and research,” said Dr  M C Misra, chief, AIIMS trauma centre.

In road accidents alone, nearly 1.5 lakh people die yearly in India. In other accidents four lakh more die.

“The number of badly injured who survive is 10-12 times more than this. Those who suffer minor injuries which lead to complications including death at a later stage of 50-60 times are more than the number of immediate deaths,” said Dr Misra.

The team from the University of Michigan inspected the trauma centre and has held meetings with authorities in the Delhi government, Directorate of Health Services, Indian Council of Medical Research and National Disaster Management Authority.

“There is high rate of infection in the Intensive Care Units. The burden of bacteria is very high. Also, there is extra usage of antibiotics in trauma cases and improper blood transfusion. We will try to work for appropriate doses of antibiotics and blood-use,” said Dr Krishnan Raghavendran, associate professor, acute care surgery, University of Michigan.

The two institutes will initially collaborate for research.

Steve Kunkel, senior faculty, University of Michigan, said there will be significant amount of knowledge sharing.

“We are going to share database and protocols and can learn certain practices from each other,” he said.

“The United States has had organised trauma care for 50 years. We need proper field training, a process to decide on the destination for the injured subject, especially if there are situations like fire in which 50 or more people have to be treated immediately,” said Dr Raghavendran.