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Table 1 Groote Schuur emergency surgery triage (GSEST) system

From: Is case triaging a useful tool for emergency surgeries? A review of 106 trauma surgery cases at a level 1 trauma center in South Africa

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Case category

Parameters

Red

Immediate

Immediate life-saving operation, resuscitation simultaneous with surgical treatment, e.g., resuscitative laparotomy, ruptured aortic aneurysm threatened airway, cord prolapse, fetal bradycardia

Orange

Expedited

Operation as soon as possible after resuscitation (within 1 to 2 hours), e.g., ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leaking aortic aneurysm, cranial decompression, positive DPL in multiple traumas, threatened limb, emergent fetal concern

Yellow

Urgent

Operation within 6 h of booking, e.g., compound fractures, appendicitis, incarcerated hernia/intestinal obstruction, EUA for non-accidental injuries

Green

Emergent

Operation not immediately life or limb saving but have to be done within 24 h of booking, e.g., ORIF of simple fractures, bleeding hemorrhoids, I&D abscess

Blue

Scheduled

Semi-urgent cases, to be done within 72 h. Operation during in hours on next available slate if possible