Use of YEARS Algorithm in Military Health Care Beneficiaries to Evaluate Use of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) can be difficult to rule out without computed tomography pulmonary angiograms (CTPAs), as presentations vary. Multiple clinical decision rules (CDRs) exist to risk-stratify patients to avoid unnecessary CTPAs. However, the currently used CDRs are complex, and research has shown low compliance with their usage.

Immersive Virtual Reality for Pain Control and Anxiolysis During IV Blood Draws in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate immersive virtual reality's (IVR) effectiveness as a distraction in reducing perceived pain and anxiety among adults undergoing intravenous (IV) blood draw.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we recruited adult patients 18-50 years of age scheduled for routine blood draws at the phlebotomy lab and randomized them into experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent IV blood draw with IVR, and the control group underwent IV blood draw with standard practice.

Hydrofluoric Acid, an Unexpected Surprise.

We report the case of a 37-year-old man presenting with pain out of proportion to the exam with hydrofluoric acid burns to his upper extremities after he spilled a wheel-stripping compound on his forearms while working at his powder coating business. His burns initially appeared mild and superficial, but over the course of several days, these evolved from simple erythema to significant partial thickness tissue destruction and ulceration. He required substantial topical, intradermal, and intravenous therapies to control the unseen burning process during his index visit to the emergency department.

Evaluation of the NIO and T.A.L.O.N Intraosseous Devices as Placed by U.S. Army Conventional Force Combat Medics-A Randomized Crossover Study.

Introduction: In recent U.S. Military conflicts, hemorrhage remains the leading cause of preventable death with 30%-40% mortality rates.

Femoral Pulse Ultrasound Assessment Accuracy by Emergency Medicine Trainees on a Porcine Model.

Unlabelled: of care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in emergency medicine (EM), including EM physician residents and EM physician assistant (EMPA) residents. Scant literature assesses accuracy and duration of POCUS pulse assessment by this group during cardiac resuscitation given recommendations for minimal pauses in chest compressions. Evaluation is needed for accuracy and duration of pulse interpretation in EM trainees utilizing POCUS.

Large Intra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumor in a Deployed Soldier Initially Presented With Chronic Diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a common condition seen among soldiers in both garrison and deployed environments. Although the vast majority of soldiers with diarrhea will recover uneventfully with supportive care, clinicians should also maintain suspicion for less common causes and perform a thorough physical exam. We report the case of a young, healthy soldier with chronic diarrhea and progressively worsening abdominal distention that began during his deployment to Honduras who was subsequently found to have a large intra-abdominal desmoid tumor.

An Analysis of Exertional Safety After Blood Donation in Active Duty Military Personnel-A Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Whole blood (WB) is the optimal resuscitation fluid in hemorrhagic shock. Military research focuses on mortality benefits of WB acquired through walking blood banks (WBBs). Few military-based studies on donation effects exist, almost exclusively performed on small special operation forces.

US Army Combat Medic Performance With Portable Ultrasound to Detect Sonographic Findings of Pneumothorax in a Cadaveric Model.

Background: Ultrasound, due to recent advances in portability and versatility, has become a valuable clinical adjunct in austere, resource-limited settings and is well demonstrated to be an accurate/efficient means to detect pneumothorax. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of hands-on ultrasound training on ultrasound-naive US Army combat medics' ability to detect sonographic findings of pneumothorax with portable ultrasound in a cadaver model.

Methods: Ultrasound-naive US Army combat medics assigned to conventional military units were recruited from a single US Army installation and randomized to receive either didactic training only, or "blended" (didactic and hands-on) training on ultrasound detection of pneumothorax.

The US military experience with THAM.

Background: Acidosis, a part of the lethal trauma triad, occurs frequently after major combat trauma. Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane (THAM) has been used to effectively treat acidosis in injured casualties. No research has been conducted assessing the safety of THAM in the military combat setting.

STEMI in a patient with mirror-image dextrocardia.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a potentially life-threatening diagnosis that cannot be missed on ECG interpretation. However, ECG interpretation may not be straightforward in patients with dextrocardia. This case report discusses the presentation of a patient with situs inversus with dextrocardia who was found to have an acute inferior MI, and how this anatomical change results in an atypical ECG and clinical presentation.

A Comparison of the Laryngeal Handshake Method Versus the Traditional Index Finger Palpation Method in Identifying the Cricothyroid Membrane, When Performed by Combat Medic Trainees.

Background: The laryngeal handshake method (LHM) may be a reliable standardized method to quickly and accurately identify the cricothyroid membrane (CTM) when performing an emergency surgical airway (ESA). However, there is currently minimal available literature evaluating the method. Furthermore, no previous CTM localization studies have focused on success rates of military prehospital providers.