Prehospital use of tranexamic acid for hemorrhagic shock in primary and secondary air medical evacuation.

Introduction: Major hemorrhage remains a leading cause of death in both military and civilian trauma. We report the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) as part of a trauma exanguination/massive transfusion protocol in the management of hemorrhagic shock in a civilian primary and secondary air medical evacuation (AME) helicopter EMS program.

Methods: TXA was introduced into our CCP flight paramedic program in June 2011.

Code Blue Emergencies: A Team Task Analysis and Educational Initiative.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify factors that have a positive or negative influence on resuscitation team performance during emergencies in the operating room (OR) and post-operative recovery unit (PAR) at a major Canadian teaching hospital. This information was then used to implement a team training program for code blue emergencies.

Methods: In 2009/10, all OR and PAR nurses and 19 anesthesiologists at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) were invited to complete an anonymous, 10 minute written questionnaire regarding their code blue experience.

A comparison of a fiberoptic stylet and a bougie as adjuncts to direct laryngoscopy in a manikin-simulated difficult airway.

Study Objective: We compare the effectiveness of an endotracheal tube introducer ("bougie") with a new fiberoptic stylet as an adjunct to direct laryngoscopy in facilitating simulated difficult tracheal intubation in a manikin.

Methods: Inexperienced laryngoscopists were recruited for this randomized, crossover study. After brief training, participants were randomized to first use either the bougie or fiberoptic stylet as an adjunct to direct laryngoscopy for attempted tracheal intubation of a manikin presenting a fixed, simulated, Cormack-Lehane grade IIIA view.