Evaluation of a novel hydrogel intravascular embolization agent in a swine model of fatal uncontrolled solid organ hemorrhage and coagulopathy.

Introduction: Current agents for the intravascular embolization of traumatic hemorrhage are used off-label and have been minimally studied with respect to their performance under differing coagulation conditions. We studied the hemorrhage control efficacy of a novel, liquid, polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel delivered as two liquid precursors that polymerize within the target vessel in a unique animal model of severe solid organ injury with and without dilutional coagulopathy.

Methods: Anesthetized swine (n = 36, 45 ± 3 kg) had laparotomy and splenic externalization.

Endovascular Embolization Techniques in a Novel Swine Model of Fatal Uncontrolled Solid Organ Hemorrhage and Coagulopathy.

Background: Endovascular embolization is increasingly used in treating traumatic hemorrhage and other applications. No endovascular-capable translational large animal models exist and coagulopathy's effect on embolization techniques is unknown. We developed a coagulation-adaptable solid organ hemorrhage model in swine for investigation of embolization techniques.

Abdominal aortic and junctional tourniquet versus zone III resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in a swine junctional hemorrhage model.

Background: Junctional hemorrhage is a leading contributor to battlefield mortality. The Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet (AAJT) and infrarenal (zone III) resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) are emerging strategies for controlling junctional hemorrhage, with AAJT currently available in select forward deployed settings and increasing interest in applying REBOA in the military prehospital environment. This study compared the hemostatic, hemodynamic, and metabolic effects of these devices used for junctional hemorrhage control.

Differing Resuscitation With Aortic Occlusion in a Swine Junctional Hemorrhage Polytrauma Model.

Background: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet (AAJT) have received much attention in recent as methods for temporary control of junctional hemorrhage. Previous studies typically used the animal's shed blood for resuscitation. With current interest in moving REBOA to prehospital environment, this study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic and metabolic responses to different resuscitation fluids used with these devices.

Should Albumin be Considered for Prehospital Resuscitation in Austere Environments? A Prospective Randomized Survival Study in Rabbits.

Background: The new guidelines for prehospital care of combat casualties in shock recommend administration of whole blood or blood components to increase blood pressure to a permissible hypotensive level (i.e., hypotensive resuscitation [HR]).

Effect of partial and complete aortic balloon occlusion on survival and shock in a swine model of uncontrolled splenic hemorrhage with delayed resuscitation.

Background: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is accepted as a resuscitation adjunct and bridge to definitive hemostasis. The ischemic burden of REBOA may be mitigated by a partial REBOA (P-REBOA) strategy permitting longer occlusion times and military use for combat trauma. We evaluated REBOA and P-REBOA in a swine multiple trauma model with uncontrolled solid organ hemorrhage and delayed resuscitation and surgical hemostasis.

Long-term consequences of abdominal aortic and junctional tourniquet for hemorrhage control.

Background: Specialized tourniquets have been deployed to the battlefield for the control of junctional/pelvic hemorrhage despite limited knowledge concerning their safety and duration of use. This study investigated long-term effects of abdominal application of the abdominal aortic and junctional tourniquet (AAJT) in a swine survival model.

Methods: Anesthetized spontaneously air-breathing swine were subjected to bilateral femoral artery injuries and subsequent 40% hemorrhage.

Management of Suspected Tension Pneumothorax in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: TCCC Guidelines Change 17-02.

This change to the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines that updates the recommendations for management of suspected tension pneumothorax for combat casualties in the prehospital setting does the following things: (1) Continues the aggressive approach to suspecting and treating tension pneumothorax based on mechanism of injury and respiratory distress that TCCC has advocated for in the past, as opposed to waiting until shock develops as a result of the tension pneumothorax before treating. The new wording does, however, emphasize that shock and cardiac arrest may ensue if the tension pneumothorax is not treated promptly. (2) Adds additional emphasis to the importance of the current TCCC recommendation to perform needle decompression (NDC) on both sides of the chest on a combat casualty with torso trauma who suffers a traumatic cardiac arrest before reaching a medical treatment facility.

Do vented chest seals differ in efficacy? An experimental evaluation using a swine hemopneumothorax model.

Objective: Airways compromise was the second leading cause of potentially preventable death among combat casualties. We investigated the ability of five Food and Drug Administration-approved nonocclusive chest seals (CSs) to seal a bleeding chest wound and prevent tension hemopneumothorax (HPTX) in a swine model.

Methods: Following instrumentation, an open chest wound was created in the left thorax of spontaneously air-breathing anesthetized pigs (n = 26; 43 kg).

Diagnostic accuracy of a novel software technology for detecting pneumothorax in a porcine model.

Introduction: Our objective was to measure the diagnostic accuracy of a novel software technology to detect pneumothorax on Brightness (B) mode and Motion (M) mode ultrasonography.

Methods: Ultrasonography fellowship-trained emergency physicians performed thoracic ultrasonography at baseline and after surgically creating a pneumothorax in eight intubated, spontaneously breathing porcine subjects. Prior to pneumothorax induction, we captured sagittal M-mode still images and B-mode videos of each intercostal space with a linear array transducer at 4cm of depth.

Does small-volume resuscitation with crystalloids or colloids influence hemostasis and survival of rabbits subjected to lethal uncontrolled hemorrhage?

Background: Prehospital, small-volume resuscitation of combat casualties with a synthetic colloid (6% hydroxyethyl starch [HES] 670/0.75) has been recommended when blood or blood components are unavailable. We studied hemostatic effects of a newer synthetic colloid (6% HES, 130/0.

Physiological Consequences of Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet (AAJT) Application to Control Hemorrhage in a Swine Model.

Introduction: Specialized tourniquets such as Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet (AAJT) have been deployed for control of junctional hemorrhage with limited information concerning their efficacy and safety. We examined physiological effects of a 2-h abdominal application of AAJT to control groin hemorrhage in a swine model.

Methods: Anesthetized pigs were subjected to 25% controlled hemorrhage and a groin arterial injury.

Influences of limited resuscitation with plasma or plasma protein solutions on hemostasis and survival of rabbits with noncompressible hemorrhage.

Background: Plasma infusion with or without red blood cells is the current military standard of care for prehospital resuscitation of combat casualties. We examined possible advantages of early and limited resuscitation with fresh plasma compared with a single plasma protein or crystalloid solutions in an uncontrolled hemorrhage model in rabbits.

Methods: Anesthetized spontaneously breathing rabbits (3.

Management of External Hemorrhage in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: The Adjunctive Use of XStat™ Compressed Hemostatic Sponges: TCCC Guidelines Change 15-03.

Exsanguination from wounds in the so-called junctional regions of the body (i.e., the neck, the axilla, and the groin) was responsible for 19% of the combat fatalities who died from potentially survivable wounds sustained in Afghanistan or Iraq during 2001 to 2011.

Is limited prehospital resuscitation with plasma more beneficial than using a synthetic colloid? An experimental study in rabbits with parenchymal bleeding.

Background: Reports of survival benefits of early transfusion of plasma with red blood cells (1:1 ratio) in trauma patients suggest that plasma may be a better fluid to replace Hextend for battlefield resuscitation. We studied possible advantages of prehospital resuscitation with plasma compared with Hextend or albumin in a model of uncontrolled hemorrhage.

Methods: Male New Zealand white rabbits (3.

Performance of Junctional Tourniquets in Normal Human Volunteers.

Background: Inguinal bleeding is a common and preventable cause of death on the battlefield. Four FDA-cleared junctional tourniquets (Combat Ready Clamp [CRoC], Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet [AAJT], Junctional Emergency Treatment Tool [JETT], and SAM Junctional Tourniquet [SJT]) were assessed in a laboratory on volunteers in order to describe differential performance of models.

Objective: To examine safety and effectiveness of junctional tourniquets in order to inform the discussions of device selection for possible fielding to military units.

Testing of junctional tourniquets by military medics to control simulated groin hemorrhage.

Background: Junctional hemorrhage is a common cause of death on the battlefield, but there is no documented direct comparison for the use of junctional tourniquet models by US medics. The purpose of this testing is to assess military medic experience with the use of junctional tourniquets in simulated out-of-hospital trauma care.

Methods: Nine medics (seven men and two women) used four different junctional tourniquets: Combat Ready Clamp™ (CRoC™; http://www.

Management of External Hemorrhage in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: Chitosan-Based Hemostatic Gauze Dressings--TCCC Guidelines-Change 13-05.

Hemorrhage remains the leading cause of combat death and a major cause of death from potentially survivable injuries. Great strides have been made in controlling extremity hemorrhage with tourniquets, but not all injuries are amenable to tourniquet application. Topical hemostatic agents and dressings have also contributed to success in controlling extremity and compressible junctional hemorrhage, and their efficacy continues to increase as enhanced products are developed.

Long-term effects of Combat Ready Clamp application to control junctional hemorrhage in swine.

Background: Groin application of Combat Ready Clamp (CRoC) in pigs elicits an acute inflammation in underlying ischemic tissues. This study examined functional recovery of pigs' hind leg(s) following 2 hours of CRoC application.

Methods: Left femoral arteries were isolated and injured in anesthetized pigs.

Management of Junctional Hemorrhage in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: TCCC Guidelines?Proposed Change 13-03.

The vast majority of combat casualties who die from their injuries do so prior to reaching a medical treatment facility. Although most of these deaths result from nonsurvivable injuries, efforts to mitigate combat deaths can still be directed toward primary prevention through modification of techniques, tactics, and procedures and secondary prevention through improvement and use of personal protective equipment. For deaths that result from potentially survivable injuries, mitigation efforts should be directed toward primary and secondary prevention as well as tertiary prevention through medical care with an emphasis toward prehospital care as dictated by the fact that the preponderance of casualties die in the prehospital environment.

Management of Open Pneumothorax in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: TCCC Guidelines Change 13-02.

During the recent United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and Joint Trauma System (JTS) assessment of prehospital trauma care in Afghanistan, the deployed director of the Joint Theater Trauma System (JTTS), CAPT Donald R. Bennett, questioned why TCCC recommends treating a nonlethal injury (open pneumothorax) with an intervention (a nonvented chest seal) that could produce a lethal condition (tension pneumothorax). New research from the U.