Guidelines for essential trauma care: from recommendation to implementation across all countries of varied income levels

The recent publication of the updated Guidelines for essential trauma care in the World Journal of Surgery is an important first step in strengthening worldwide trauma care across all income levels.1 The updated guidelines address changes and progress from the original 2004 document from the WHO and the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care (available online, https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/guidelines-for-essential-trauma-care). That document formed the basis of many countries’ development of trauma care, often where none existed, with demonstrated improved trauma outcomes.1 From the trauma system perspective, they are read in conjunction with the prehospital care guidelines and quality improvement guidelines documents.2 3