Introduction

• Definition: French word "trier" which means to sort or to select.
• Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients’ treatments based on the severity of their conditions.
• If there is more than one emergency at a time, it allows examination of all patients quickly and classification of the patients according to the urgency in which their injuries must be addressed. Traditionally, the most urgent cases would involve problems with the cardiovascular, respiratory or neurological body systems.
• Immediate transport to treatment area - include patients with:
  • Collapse, unconsciousness.
  • Severe bleeding.
  • Trauma Trauma: overview.
  • Respiratory distress.
  • GDV Gastric dilatation / volvulus: surgical repair.
  • Dystocia Dystocia.
  • Urethral obstruction Urethra: obstruction.
  • Seizures Seizures.
• Detailed histories often delayed while patients are triaged and initially treated; a ‘capsule history’ may, however, be useful during emergency assessment and treatment.
• Permission for stabilization and treatment must be signed by client before proceeding.
• Client should be asked if, in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest Cardiac arrest Cardiopulmonary arrest: pathophysiology , whether they would like the triage/critical care team to initiate cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation Emergency resuscitation. If no, then "do not resuscitate" (DNAR) status should be known to all personnel.
• Triage team must be prepared and organized. Various tasks should be delegated to appropriate trained personnel and the team should practice in order to maintain efficiency when faced with real emergencies or disaster situations.

Essential equipment in emergency room

Primary survey

Immediate treatment priorities for life-threatening problems

Categories for triage

Secondary survey

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Lisciandro G R (2011) Abdominal and thoracic focused assessment with sonography for trauma, triage and monitoring in small animals. J Vet Emer Crit Care 21 (2), 104-122 PubMed.
• Faggella A M (1994) First Aid, Transport, and Triage. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 24 (6), 997-1014 PubMed.
• Kovacic J P (1994) Management of life-threatening trauma. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 24 (6), 1057-1094 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Lisciandro G R (2014) Focused ultrasound techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner. Wiley.
• Wingfield W E & Lannan L (2002) Disaster preparedness, response, and triage. In: The Veterinary ICU Book. Eds W E Wingfield and M R Raffee. Teton New Media, Jackson Hole, WY. pp 1226-1246.
• Wingfield W E (2001) Disaster preparedness and the veterinarian. In: Veterinary Emergency Secrets, 2nd edition. Ed. W E Wingfield. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia, pp 107-110.
• Wingfield W E (2001) Treatment priorities in trauma. In: Veterinary Emergency Secrets, 2nd edition.Ed. W E Wingfield. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. pp 53-56.
• Kirby R (1998) Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. Self-assessment color review. Iowa State University Press.