Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39235718›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical systems2024

Optimizing Medical Care during a Nerve Agent Mass Casualty Incident Using Computer Simulation.

De Rouck Ruben, Mehdi Benhassine, Debacker Michel, Van Utterbeeck Filip, Dhondt Erwin, Hubloue Ives

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical systems, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Changing patterns in chemical terrorism 1970-2021.Frontiers in public health · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

De Rouck RubenResearch Group on Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Jette, 1090, Belgium. ruben.de.rouck@vub.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2376-6864
Mehdi BenhassineSimulation, Modelling, and Analysis of Complex Systems, Department of Mathematics, Royal Military Academy, Renaissancelaan 30, Brussels, 1000, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2738-8415
Debacker MichelResearch Group on Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Jette, 1090, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1901-6865
Van Utterbeeck FilipSimulation, Modelling, and Analysis of Complex Systems, Department of Mathematics, Royal Military Academy, Renaissancelaan 30, Brussels, 1000, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1853-8453
Dhondt ErwinRoyal Higher Institute for Defence, Renaissancelaan 30, Brussels, 1000, Belgium.
Hubloue IvesResearch Group on Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Jette, 1090, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4535-801X

Funding

Royal Higher Institute of Defence HFM/21-12
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionChemical mass casualty incidents (MCIs) pose a substantial threat to public health and safety, with the capacity to overwhelm healthcare infrastructure and create societal disorder. Computer simulation systems are becoming an established mechanism to validate these plans due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness and lower susceptibility to ethical problems.

methodsWe created a computer simulation model of an urban subway sarin attack analogous to the 1995 Tokyo sarin incident. We created and combined evacuation, dispersion and victim models with the SIMEDIS computer simulator. We analyzed the effect of several possible approaches such as evacuation policy ('Scoop and Run' vs. 'Stay and Play'), three strategies (on-site decontamination and stabilization, off-site decontamination and stabilization, and on-site stabilization with off-site decontamination), preliminary triage, victim distribution methods, transport supervision skill level, and the effect of search and rescue capacity.

resultsOnly evacuation policy, strategy and preliminary triage show significant effects on mortality. The total average mortality ranges from 14.7 deaths in the combination of off-site decontamination and Scoop and Run policy with pretriage, to 24 in the combination of onsite decontamination with the Stay and Play and no pretriage.

conclusionOur findings suggest that in a simulated urban chemical MCI, a Stay and Play approach with on-site decontamination will lead to worse outcomes than a Scoop and Run approach with hospital-based decontamination. Quick transport of victims in combination with on-site antidote administration has the potential to save the most lives, due to faster hospital arrival for definitive care.

Indexed as

Computer SimulationDisaster PlanningMass Casualty IncidentsTriageDecontaminationHumansNerve AgentsSarinNerve AgentsSarinComputer simulationDisasterGBMass casualty incidentNerve agentSarinSIMEDISSimulation model

Identifiers

PMID39235718
PMCPMC11377464

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.