Stopping the bleed when tourniquets cannot: a technique for Foley catheter balloon compression in trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhage is a leading cause of death in trauma. Prehospital hemorrhage control techniques include tourniquet application for extremity wounds and direct compression; however, tourniquets are not effective in anatomic junctions, and direct compression is highly operator dependent. Balloon catheter compression has been employed previously in trauma care, but its use has been confined to the operating room and restricted to specific anatomic injuries. METHODS: In a single-center retrospective review, we describe a technique for balloon catheter compression for hemorrhage control that can be employed across the continuum of trauma care, from the prehospital setting to the trauma bay, the operating room, and postoperative period. RESULTS: Of 18,303 trauma patients in Venezuela, 45% of the 1757 patients with vascular injuries received Foley catheter compression for hemorrhage control. Of these catheters, the majority (75%) were placed in the emergency department, 5% in the prehospital setting, and 20% in the operating room. Over half (53.2%) of the balloon catheters were placed for hemorrhage control in non-compressible anatomic junctions. CONCLUSIONS: Foley catheter balloon compression is a useful addition to a provider's arsenal of hemorrhage control techniques, as it is effective in anatomic junctions, preserves collateral circulation through focused compression, and requires minimal active physical attention to maintain hemostasis.

Implementation of an Intensive Surgical Simulation Week for Medical Students in Rwanda.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation-based training often fails to meet the needs of low- and middle-income countries with limited access to high-cost models. We built on an existing surgical simulation curriculum for medical students in Rwanda and assessed students' experience. METHODS: Based on a contextual simulation-based education curriculum that was piloted in 2022, our team designed and delivered an intensive week-long surgical simulation course for medical students. We increased interactive clinical scenarios using high-fidelity mannequins, improved and added benchtop models for training, and incorporated a new postcourse assessment of students' experiences using a survey on the first Kirkpatrick level to determine sessions with the highest utility. Modules included informed consent, preoperative patient preparation, trauma simulations, and procedural skills. The final day focused on integrating and applying skills learned throughout the week in an interactive circuit. RESULTS: Thirty-six students participated in the 5-d simulation course and 24 completed an end of course survey. When asked about their exposure to simulation prior to the course, 20/24 (83%) students reported "a lot" and 4/24 (17%) reported "a little", 24/24 (100%) strongly agreed that simulation is a valuable educational tool and 23/24 (96%) felt that the week enhanced their knowledge and skills to "a great extent". The modules with the highest self-rated level of engagement were the interactive trauma simulations, knot-tying and suturing practice and competition, and a model-based session on cutaneous lesions. The lowest ranked session was the interactive circuit on integrated skills. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a locally-informed and locally-sourced surgical simulation curriculum is feasible and effectively engages medical students in low-income settings.

A low-cost, DIY tourniquet simulator with built-in self-assessment for prehospital providers in Guatemala city.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death after trauma. In high-income countries first responders are trained in hemorrhage control techniques but this is not the case for developing countries like Guatemala. We present a low-cost training model for tourniquet application using a combination of virtual and physical components. METHODS: The training program includes a mobile application with didactic materials, videos and a gamified virtual reality environment for learning. Additionally, a physical training model of a bleeding lower extremity is developed allowing learners to practice tourniquet application using inexpensive and accessible materials. Validation of the simulator occurred through content and construct validation. Content validation involved subjective assessments by novices and experts, construct validation compared pre-training novices with experts. Training validation compared pre and post training novices for improvement. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that users found the simulator useful, realistic, and satisfactory. We found significant differences in tourniquet application skills between pre-training novices and experts. When comparing pre- and post-training novices, we found a significantly lower bleeding control time between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that this training approach can enhance access to life-saving skills for prehospital personnel. The inclusion of self-assessment components enables self-regulated learning and reduces the need for continuous instructor presence. Future improvements involve refining the tourniquet model, validating it with first-responder end users, and expanding the training program to include other skills.

Community support for injured patients: A scoping review and narrative synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Community-based peer support (CBPS) groups have been effective in facilitating access to and retention in the healthcare system for patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and other communicable and non-communicable diseases. Given the high incidence of morbidity that results from traumatic injuries, and the barriers to reaching and accessing care for injured patients, community-based support groups may prove to be similarly effective in this population. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review is to identify the extent and impact of CBPS for injured patients. ELIGIBILITY: We included primary research on studies that evaluated peer-support groups that were solely based in the community. Hospital-based or healthcare-professional led groups were excluded. EVIDENCE: Sources were identified from a systematic search of Medline / PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science Core Collection. CHARTING METHODS: We utilized a narrative synthesis approach to data analysis. RESULTS: 4,989 references were retrieved; 25 were included in final data extraction. There was a variety of methodologies represented and the groups included patients with spinal cord injury (N = 2), traumatic brain or head injury (N = 7), burns (N = 4), intimate partner violence (IPV) (N = 5), mixed injuries (N = 5), torture (N = 1), and brachial plexus injury (N = 1). Multiple benefits were reported by support group participants; categorized as social, emotional, logistical, or educational benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based peer support groups can provide education, community, and may have implications for retention in care for injured patients.

Estimating the economic impact of interpersonal violence in Mexico in 2021: projecting three hypothetical scenarios for 2030 / Estimación del impacto económico de la violencia interpersonal en México en el 2021: proyección de tres escenarios hipotéticos para el 2030 / Estimativa do impacto econômico da violência interpessoal no México em 2021: projeção de três cenários hipotéticos para 2030

ABSTRACT Objective. To calculate the economic impact of violence across Mexico in 2021 and project costs for 2021-2030. Methods. Incidence data was obtained from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, (SESNSP), National Population Council (CONAPO), National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), and the National Survey of Victimization and Perception of Public Safety (ENVIPE). Our model incorporates incidence estimates of the costs of events associated with violence (e.g., homicides, hospitalizations, rapes, extortions, robbery, etc). Results. The economic impact of crime and violence in Mexico for the year 2021 has been estimated at about $192 billion US dollars, which corresponds to 14.6% of the national GDP. By reducing violence 50% by 2030, we estimate savings of at least US$110 billion dollars. This represents a saving of US$1 376 372 for each company and more than US$66 771 for each Mexican. Conclusion. Violence and homicides have become one of the most pressing public health and economic concerns for their effect on health, development, and economic growth. Due to low cost and high impact, prevention is the most efficient way to respond to crime and violence while also being an essential component of sustainable strategies aimed at improving citizen security.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Calcular el impacto económico de la violencia en el 2021 en todo México y proyectar sus costos para el período 2021-2030. Métodos. Los datos de incidencia se obtuvieron del Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública (SESNSP), el Consejo Nacional de Población (CONAPO), el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), y la Encuesta Nacional de Victimización y Percepción sobre Seguridad Pública (ENVIPE). Nuestro modelo incorpora estimaciones de la incidencia de los costos de los eventos asociados a la violencia (por ejemplo, homicidios, hospitalizaciones, violaciones, extorsiones, robos, etc.) Resultados. Se ha estimado que el impacto económico del delito y la violencia en México para el año 2021 es de alrededor de US$ 192 000 millones de dólares estadounidenses, lo que corresponde al 14,6% del PIB nacional. Estimamos que una reducción del 50% de la violencia para el 2030 supondría un ahorro de al menos US$110 000 millones. Esto representa un ahorro de US$1 376 372 para cada empresa y de más de US$66 771 para cada mexicano. Conclusión. La violencia y los homicidios se han convertido en una de las preocupaciones económicas y de salud pública más apremiantes por su efecto sobre la salud, el desarrollo y el crecimiento económico. Debido a su bajo costo y alto impacto, la prevención es la forma más eficiente de responder al delito y la violencia, al tiempo que es un componente esencial de las estrategias sostenibles dirigidas a mejorar la seguridad ciudadana.

RESUMO Objetivo. Estimar o impacto econômico da violência no México em 2021 e fazer a projeção de custos para o período 2021-2030. Métodos. Os dados de incidência da violência no país foram obtidos da Secretaria Executiva do Sistema Nacional de Segurança Pública (SESNSP), do Conselho Nacional de População (CONAPO), do Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Geografia (INEGI) e da Pesquisa Nacional de Vitimização e Percepção de Segurança Pública (ENVIPE). O modelo incorpora estimativas de incidência de custos de eventos associados à violência (como homicídios, internações hospitalares, estupros, extorsões e roubos). Resultados. O impacto econômico da criminalidade e da violência no México foi estimado em torno de US$192 bilhões em 2021, o que equivale a 14,6% do produto interno bruto (PIB) nacional. Estima-se que reduzir a violência em 50% até 2030 pode resultar em uma economia de US$ 110 bilhões ou mais, o que representa uma redução de gastos de US$1 376 372 para cada empresa e de mais de US$66 771 para cada cidadão do México. Conclusão. A violência e os homicídios são um dos problemas econômicos e de saúde pública mais prementes por suas consequências à saúde, ao desenvolvimento e ao crescimento econômico do país. Devido ao seu baixo custo e alto impacto, a prevenção é a forma mais eficiente de combater a criminalidade e a violência, além de ser um componente essencial de qualquer estratégia sustentável para aumentar a segurança da população.