Management of the acute radiation syndrome

Classification of radiation injury on a clinical basis is useful for determining priorities of evacuation and treatment in a mass casualty situation. Victims of nuclear attack would probably also suffer traumatic and thermal injuries. Four categories of surgical injury have therefore been combined with three categories of radiation injury to yield 12 classes of patients whose disposition is described. The treatment of the acute radiation syndrome is briefly discussed and concurrent injuries from trauma and burns and their possible implications are considered.