Airway Management in Austere Settings: Intubation Is Not Always the Best Option.

Management of the airway in austere environments can differ substantially from standard in-hospital airway management. Devices such as nasopharyngeal airways, oropharyngeal airways, endotracheal tubes, extraglottic airways, ventilators, and sedative and paralytic medications may not be available. Weather, scene hazards, difficulties of extrication, transport times, skill sets of rescuers, and availability of advanced equipment are highly variable.

Comparison of Commonly Carried Liquids Against Commercial Ultrasound Gel for Use in the Backcountry Setting.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is utilized in austere environments because it is lightweight, durable, battery powered, and portable. In austere settings, weight and space constraints are limitations to carrying dedicated ultrasound gel. Few studies have assessed commonly carried liquids as gel alternatives.

Clinical utilization of a sous vide device in the acute rewarming of frostbitten extremities.

The current standard of care for acute frostbite rewarming is the use of a circulating warm water bath at a temperature of 37 °C to 39 °C. There is no standardized method to achieve this. Manual management of a warm water bath can be inefficient and time consuming.

Witnessed Cardiac Arrest in a Hypothermic Avalanche Victim Completely Buried for 2 Hours.

A 34-y-old skier triggered a wind slab avalanche and was completely buried for over 2 h. After extrication by rescuers, the victim was breathing and conscious. Despite directions from the rescuers against standing up, the victim struggled to free himself and ultimately stood upright before collapsing in cardiac arrest.