The 6th February 2023 Turkey Earthquake and Emergency Department Admissions: A Catastrophic Disaster

Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of the February 6th, 2023 earthquake in Turkey on emergency department (ED) admissions, especially at the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, and to identify the lessons learned from this disaster.
Material and Methods: The study analyzed the data of all earthquake victims who applied to the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital ED between February 6th and February 28th, 2023, after the earthquake. The patients’ demographic characteristics, reasons for application, transfer methods, hours of application after the disaster, diagnosis, the service where they were hospitalized, and patient outcomes were recorded. A total of 1.577 earthquake victims were admitted to the ED during the study period, and their data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software.
Results: Of the patients, 719 (45.59%) were male and 858 (54.40%) were female, and the average age was 42±12.63. During their follow-up, 770 (48.82%) patients were hospitalized, 783 (49.65%) were treated and discharged, and 27 (1.71%) patients refused treatment. ED admissions were mainly related to trauma, fractures, and injuries from falling debris. Crush syndrome developed in 393 (24.92%) of the 1.577 patients. Of the patients with crush syndrome, 211 (53.60%) were on dialysis during their follow-up. Compartment syndrome developed in 215 (13.63%) patients. Fasciotomy was performed on 155 (9.82%) patients.
Conclusion: The February 6th, 2023 earthquake in Turkey resulted in overwhelming ED admissions, highlighting the importance of disaster preparedness and the need for trained medical professionals equipped with the necessary resources to respond quickly and effectively to such disasters. The study revealed that the emergency response system needs to be improved to handle large numbers of patients during a disaster. The study also emphasized the importance of effective communication and coordination among emergency response teams, aid organizations, and government agencies.

Keywords: Earthquake, emergency department, disaster