Deploying whole blood to the battlefield-The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps initial experience during the 2023 war.

BACKGROUND: Military and prehospital medical organizations invest significant resources to advance the treatment of trauma patients aiming to reduce preventable deaths. Focus is on hemorrhage control and volume resuscitation with blood products, with adoption of Remote Damage Control Resuscitation (RDCR) guidelines. The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) has been using tranexamic acid and freeze-dried plasma (FDP) as part of its RDCR protocol for more than a decade. In recent years, low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) has been integrated, on IDF evacuation helicopters and expanded to mobile ambulances, complementing FDP use in treating trauma patients in state of profound shock. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: During the war that erupted in October 2023, the IDF-MC made a decision to bring LTOWB forward, and to equip every combat brigade level mobile intensive care units with LTOWB, onboard armored vehicles. The goal was to make whole blood available as close as possible to the point of injury and within minutes from time of injury. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We describe the IDF-MCs' efforts to bring LTOWB to the front lines and present four cases in which LTOWB was administered. All patients were young male, with significant blood loss following penetrating injuries. One patient died in the operating room, following hospital arrival and emergency thoracotomy. The others survived. Our initial experience with bringing LTOWB as close as possible to the point of injury during high intensity fighting is encouraging, showing patient benefit along with logistic feasibility. After action reports and data collection will continue.

Survival following Prehospital Traumatic Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation in the Israel Defense Forces: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) is associated with a poor prognosis and requires urgent interventions to address its potentially reversible causes. Resuscitative efforts of TCA in the prehospital setting may entail significant resource allocation and impose added tolls on caregivers. The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) instructs clinicians to perform a set protocol in the case of TCA, providing prompt oxygenation, chest decompression and volume resuscitation. This study investigates the settings, interventions, and outcomes of TCA resuscitation by IDF-MC teams over 25 years in both combat and civilian settings. METHODS: Retrospective study of the IDF-MC Trauma Registry between 1997-2022. Search criteria were applied to identify cases where the TCA protocol was initiated. A manual review of cases matching the search criteria was performed by two curators to determine the indications, interventions, and outcomes of casualties with prehospital TCA. Patients for whom interventions were performed outside of the TCA protocol, such as with measurable vital signs, were excluded. The primary outcome was survival to hospital admission, with the secondary outcome being return of vital signs in the prehospital setting. RESULTS: Following case review, 149 patients with prehospital TCA were included, with a median age of 21 (interquartile range 19-27). Eighty-four (56.4%) presented with TCA in military or combat settings, with gunshot wounds and blast injuries being the most common mechanisms in this group. For 56 casualties (37.8%), all components of the protocol were performed (oxygenation, chest decompression, and volume resuscitation). Five (3.4%) casualties had return of vital signs in the prehospital setting, but none survived to hospital admission. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of prehospital TCA is poor, and efforts to address its potentially reversible causes may often be futile. These notions may be further emphasized in military settings, where resources are limited, and extensive penetrating injuries are more common.

Adopting a culture of remote damage control resuscitation in the military: Insights from the Israel defense forces decade of experience.

BACKGROUND: Remote damage control resuscitation (RDCR) aims to apply the principles of damage control resuscitation to prehospital and austere care, emphasizing early control of compressible hemorrhage, balanced volume resuscitation, and the prevention or correction of coagulopathy, acidosis, hypothermia, and hypocalcemia. Over the past decades, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) has made significant efforts to integrate the principles of RDCR into prehospital trauma care in the military. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this article, we reflect on the implementation of RDCR in the prehospital setting by the IDF-MC, sharing successes, challenges, considerations on guideline changes, and their assessment over time. RESULTS: The implementation of RDCR has resulted in changes in clinical practice guidelines and training programs, with increased awareness and adoption of RDCR principles among both medical and non-medical military personnel. The implementation of these principles and adherence to guideline changes have been analyzed using the Israel Defense Forces Trauma Registry. DISCUSSION: By sharing our experiences, we hope to provide valuable insights for other military and civilian organizations seeking to adopt similar protocols for prehospital care. Continuous evaluation and refinement of guidelines and training programs will be essential for ongoing implementation and advancement of RDCR in the prehospital setting.

The effectiveness of the manual pressure points technique for hemorrhage control-The 2022 THOR pre-conference meeting experience.

INTRODUCTION: Limb and junctional hemorrhage are leading causes of potentially preventable death among trauma casualties. Hemorrhage control for these regions could be achieved by direct or indirect pressure. The manual pressure points (MPP) involves applying manual pressure on the arterial supply to occlude distal blood flow without the need for specialized equipment. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospective, non-randomized, human volunteer, controlled environment study involving 38 healthy military caregivers, with 26 participants attending a short instructional session. During a medical exercise, participants were requested to apply pressure on the supraclavicular and femoral points aiming to stop regional blood flow, measured by distal pulse palpation. The measures recorded included achievement of distal pulse cessation, success in achieving cessation for a full minute, and subjects' pain scores reported after each attempt. RESULTS: All participants succeeded in achieving distal pulse cessation for both the supraclavicular and femoral points for a full minute. The median time to initial success was 3.0 (interquartile range 2.0-5.0) seconds in the supraclavicular point and 4.5 (interquartile range 3.0-6.0) seconds in the femoral point. Pain scores ranging between 0 and 3 were reported by most subjects during supraclavicular (68.4%) and femoral occlusion (84.2%). CONCLUSION: The MPP technique was highly effective in occluding distal palpable pulses in healthy volunteers when applied to the supraclavicular and femoral arteries. Brief instruction on the technique can potentially improve the chances of achieving hemorrhage control within 5 s. Further research is required to determine efficacy among different populations and providers with varying experience levels.

Low-titer group O whole blood in military ground ambulances: Lessons from the Israel Defense Forces initial experience.

BACKGROUND: Cold-stored low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) has become increasingly utilised in both prehospital and in-hospital settings for resuscitation of traumatic haemorrhage. However, implementing the use of LTOWB to ground medical teams has been limited due to logistic challenges. METHODS: In 2022, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) started using LTOWB in ambulances for the first time in Israel. This report details the initial experience of this rollout and presents a case-series of the first patients treated with LTOWB. RESULTS: Between January-December 2022, seven trauma patients received LTOWB administered by ground IDF intensive care ambulances after presenting with profound shock. Median time from injury to administration of LTOWB was 35 min. All patients had evidence of severe bleeding upon hospital arrival with six undergoing damage control laparotomy and all but one surviving to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of LTOWB in ground medical units is in its early stages, but continued experience may demonstrate its feasibility, safety, and effectiveness in the prehospital setting. Further research is necessary to fully understand the indications, methodology, and benefits of LTOWB in resuscitating severely injured trauma patients in this setting.

Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Administration in Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the Israeli Defense Forces Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration confers a survival benefit in bleeding trauma patients; however, data regarding its use in pediatric patients are limited. This study evaluates the prehospital treatment with TXA in pediatric trauma patients treated by the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC). DESIGN: Retrospective, cohort study using the Israel Defense Forces registry, 2011-2021. PATIENTS: Pediatric trauma patients less than 18 years old. We excluded patients pronounced dead at the scene. INTERVENTIONS: None. SETTING: All cases of pediatric trauma in the registry were assessed for treatment with TXA. Propensity score matching was used to assess the association between prehospital TXA administration and mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Overall, 911 pediatric trauma patients were treated with TXA by the IDF-MC teams; the median (interquartile) age was 10 years (5-15 yr), and 72.8% were male. Seventy patients (7.6%) received TXA, with 52 of 70 (74%) receiving a 1,000 mg dose (range 200-1,000 mg). There were no prehospital adverse events associated with the use of TXA (upper limit of 95% CI for 0/70 is 4.3%). Compared with pediatric patients who did not receive TXA, patients receiving TXA were more likely to suffer from shock (40% vs 10.7%; p < 0.001), sustain more penetrating injuries (72.9% vs 31.7%; p < 0.001), be treated with plasma or crystalloids (62.9% vs 11.4%; p < 0.001), and undergo more lifesaving interventions (24.3% vs 6.2%; p < 0.001). The propensity score matching failed to identify an association between TXA and lesser odds of mortality, although a lack of effect (or even adverse effect) could not be excluded (non-TXA: 7.1% vs TXA: 4.3%, odds ratio = 0.584; 95% CI 0.084-3.143; p = 0.718). CONCLUSIONS: Although prehospital TXA administration in the pediatric population is feasible with adverse event rate under 5%, more research is needed to determine the appropriate approach to pediatric hemostatic resuscitation and the role of TXA in this population.

Manual Pressure Points Technique for Massive Hemorrhage Control-A Prospective Human Volunteer Study.

BACKGROUND: While commonly thought to be effective for management of limb and junctional hemorrhage, the manual pressure points technique was excluded from leading prehospital guidelines over a decade ago following the publication of a single human-volunteers study presenting unfavorable results. This work aimed to re-assess the efficacy and feasibility of the femoral and supraclavicular pressure points technique for temporary hemorrhage control distal to the pressure point. METHODS: A prospective, non-randomized, human volunteer, controlled environment study. In the study 35 healthy male combat medics (age 21.1 ± 1.3 years) received brief training after which they were requested to apply pressure in the femoral and supraclavicular points in attempts to stop regional blood flow, measured distally by Doppler ultrasound. Success rates in achieving flow cessation in under 2 minutes, time required for achievement of flow cessation, and cumulative flow cessation duration within a 3-minute follow-up after initial success were measured. RESULTS: For the supraclavicular point, success rates were 97.1% with a mean time to success of 12.5 (±20.9) seconds, lasting for 76.2% (±23.7) of the follow-up time. For the femoral point, success rates were 100% with a mean time to success of 5.5 (±4.3) seconds, lasting for 98.7% (±3.8) of the follow-up time. CONCLUSIONS: Manual pressure on the femoral and supraclavicular points is an applicable and efficient method for temporary hemorrhage control distal to the pressure point. As such, with additional study, this method may be considered for re-introduction to prehospital care guidelines and training programs.

Military medical research in the IDF: an array of fields and interests.

BACKGROUND: War is as old as history. Some may say it is older. The first Biblical war, dated 1880-1875 BCE, is depicted in the book of Genesis between nine kings in the vicinity of the Jordan river near Jericho. By the end of the war, Abraham (Abram) gets involved in saving his nephew Lot. In addition to war, military medicine also has its roots in historical times. Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), the father of medicine, derived his medical knowledge from the battlefield, and Sushruta [1], the father of plastic surgery, mentioned the physician's preventive role in noting environmental hazards: "A common practice of the enemy is to poison the wells on the roadside, the articles of food, the shades of trees, and the fuel and forage for cattle; hence, it is incumbent on a physician marching with the troops to inspect, examine, and purify these before using any of them, in case they are poisoned." The Greeks stated new ideas of military health, pointing to fitness promotion, gymnastics, and healthy diets to prevent illness. Over the centuries, from Alexander the Great to Napoleon's army and wars in the 20th century, military conflicts have led to the death of hundreds of millions of people from trauma and war-related disease. Amazingly analyses of the 18th and 19th centuries have shown that 80% of the soldiers died from disease, and historians and military personnel agree that during armed conflicts in known history, only a minority of soldiers perished by the sword. In Israel, the Israel Defense Forces-Medical Corps (IDF-MC) holds a unique position embedded in military and civilian national medicine. All medical personnel (e.g., physicians, nurses, technicians, veterinarians) who work in the IDF-MC receive their diplomas from civilian universities, train in civilian hospitals, and continue to practice in the national health system. The majority of these professionals continue to work in different civilian medical platforms in Israel after finishing their mandatory service. The IDF-MC's primary mission is to provide optimal medical care to IDF soldiers at all times (including wartime), to prevent disease and promote health, advance military medicine, and aid the civilian sector as ordered by the Government of Israel. In this special issue of Israel Medical Association Journal (IMAJ) is to expose readers to the continuous efforts of the IDF-MC to fulfill its mission by promoting research in multiple medical fields, including trauma, ambulatory care, health administration. In addition, in this issue of IMAJ, authors discuss the unique collaboration with the civilian system during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Trauma and trauma-related injuries are the main focus of military medical research. Ben-Avi and colleagues [2] described outcomes of emergent exploratory thoracotomies on military casualties and addresses parameters that may impact the survival of these casualties. Minervini [3] further discussed the issue. Bez et al. [4] researched the impact of isolated versus non-isolated traumatic brain injuries on injury identification and decision-making by care providers in austere scenarios. Tsur and co-authors [5] described the characteristics of a unique type of terror attack: vehicle ramming. Additional examples of treatments provided in the military prehospital arena were analyzed by Nakar and colleagues [6] who discussed how to assess pain medications administered to trauma casualties in the past two decades by IDF-MC care providers. Rittblat et al. [7] further described the use of freeze-dried plasma, a blood component used in the prehospital arena and administered via intraosseous vascular access. The IDF-MC is a continuously changing organization emphasizing the adoption of advanced technologies and devices. Chen et al. [8] presented a blinded study on the use of point-of-care ultrasound and remote telementored ultrasound by inexperienced operators, and Sorkin et al. [9] described the BladeShield 101: a novel device for the battlefield designed to continuously measure vital signs and medical treatment provided and to transfer data through roles of care. In this special issue of IMAJ, authors also discusse gender-related aspects at the core of medical treatment. Segal et al. [10] examined whether missed injuries were related to the medical provider's gender, while Gelikas et al. [11] assessed whether treatment with analgesia was associated with casualty gender in the military prehospital trauma setting Over the past two and a half years, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant part of our lives. During these years, medical systems and teams throughout Israel and around the world struggled to adapt to this new disease and save lives fighting the pandemic. Geva et al. [12] and Shental et al. [13] discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the IDF medical system, lessons learned during the outbreak, and effects of different diseases during these times on medical treatment provided by the IDF to soldiers.

Trends in prehospital pain management: two decades of point-of-injury care.

BACKGROUND: Pain control in trauma is an integral part of treatment in combat casualty care. More soldiers injured on the battlefield need analgesics for pain than life-saving interventions (LSIs). Early treatment of pain improves outcomes after injury, while inadequate treatment leads to higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Medical Corps with prehospital use of analgesia. METHODS: All cases documented in the IDF-Trauma Registry between January 1997 and December 2019 were examined. Data collection included analgesia administered, mechanism of injury, wound distribution, and life-saving interventions performed. RESULTS: Of 16,117 patients, 1807 (11.2%) had at least one documented analgesia. Demographics included 91.2% male; median age 21 years. Leading mechanism of injury was penetrating (52.9%). Of injured body regions reported, 46.2% were lower extremity wounds. Most common types of analgesics were morphine (57.2%) and fentanyl (27%). Over the two decades of the study period, types of analgesics given by providers at point of injury (POI) had changed. Fentanyl was introduced in 2013, and by 2019 was given to 39% of patients. Another change was an increase of casualties receiving analgesia from 5-10% until 2010 to 34% by 2019. A total of 824 LSIs were performed on 556 patients (30.8%) receiving analgesia and no adverse events were found in any of the casualties. CONCLUSIONS: Most casualties at POI did not receive any analgesics. The most common analgesics administered were opioids. Over time analgesic administration has gained acceptance and become more commonplace on the battlefield.

A randomized, controlled, blinded evaluation of augmenting point-of-care ultrasound and remote telementored ultrasound in inexperienced operators.

BACKGROUND: Handheld ultrasound devices present an opportunity for prehospital sonographic assessment of trauma, even in the hands of novice operators commonly found in military, maritime, or other austere environments. However, the reliability of such point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) examinations by novices is rightly questioned. A common strategy being examined to mitigate this reliability gap is remote mentoring by an expert. OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of utilizing POCUS in the hands of novice military or civilian emergency medicine service (EMS) providers, with and without the use of telementoring. To assess the mitigating or exacerbating effect telementoring may have on operator stress. METHODS: Thirty-seven inexperienced physicians and EMTs serving as first responders in military or civilian EMS were randomized to receive or not receive telementoring during three POCUS trials: live model, Simbionix trainer, and jugular phantom. Salivary cortisol was obtained before and after the trial. Heart rate variability monitoring was performed throughout the trial. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical performance between the two groups. Iatrogenic complications of jugular venous catheterization were reduced by 26% in the telementored group (P < 0.001). Salivary cortisol levels dropped by 39% (P < 0.001) in the telementored group. Heart rate variability data also suggested mitigation of stress. CONCLUSIONS: Telementoring of POCUS tasks was not found to improve performance by novices, but findings suggest that it may mitigate caregiver stress.

Post-expiry stability of freeze-dried plasma under field conditions - Can shelf life be extended?

BACKGROUND: This prospective study evaluated the effect of routine, uncontrolled, Israeli field storage conditions on the safety and efficacy of Lyo-Plas N Freeze-Dried Plasma (FDP) at the end of the manufacturer's shelf life, and up to 24 months post expiry. Clotting factors V, VIII and XI, proteins S, C, fibrinogen, PTT, ATIII, VWF, and INR as well as TEG, DDM, residual moisture, pH, and sterility of FDP returned from field units after uncontrolled storage were evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Parameters measured at the end of manufacturer shelf life, as well as 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after expiry, were compared to those of freshly supplied FDP doses. RESULTS: Changes were found when comparing freshly supplied FDP to all field-stored groups in INR, PT, PTT, pH, fibrinogen, and factor VIII. A significant change was also seen in Factor XI in the 12, 18, and 24 months post-expiry samples, Factor V and R in the 24 months post-expiry samples, MA in the 12, 24 months post-expiry group, and Protein C in the 18 months post-expiry group. An increase in the residual moisture from 0.90% in freshly supplied FDP to 1.35% in 24 months post-expiry FDP.; all p < .05. No growth was found in sterility analysis. CONCLUSION: Despite uncontrolled field storage conditions, the findings demonstrate that the safety and efficacy of FDP units, stored in uncontrolled conditions are only slightly affected, even beyond their expiration date. This information allows consideration of possibly extending the shelf life.

A prehospital scoring system for predicting the need for emergent blood product transfusion.

BACKGROUND: Several tools have been proven to predict the need for massive transfusion in trauma casualties, yet tools that are easily applicable in the prehospital setting for predicting the need for any blood product transfusion in the emergency department (ED) are lacking. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the cross-referenced Israeli Defense Forces Trauma Registry and the Israeli National Trauma Registry databases was performed to identify predictors for any blood product transfusion in the ED. A scoring system was developed after internally validating the prediction model. Division to risk groups was performed. RESULTS: Seven variables (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, trunk involvement, mechanism of injury, chest decompression, and tourniquet application) were included in the scoring system, ranging from 0 to 11.5. Risk groups for ED transfusion included very low (0.8%), low (3.2%), intermediate (8.5%), and high (31.2%) risk. CONCLUSION: A scoring system for predicting the need for any blood product transfusion in the ED was developed, based on information readily available in the early stages of prehospital resuscitation, allowing the receiving medical facility to prepare for that need.

Low-Titer Group O Whole-Blood Resuscitation in the Prehospital Setting in Israel: Review of the First 2.5 Years' Experience.

INTRODUCTION: The Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) implemented the use of low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) as the first-choice resuscitation fluid in the IDF airborne Combat Search and Rescue Unit (IDF-CSAR) for aerial evacuation of both military and civilian casualties in June 2018 for injured patients with hemorrhagic shock and at least one of the following: systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, heart rate >130 beats/min, deterioration of consciousness without head injury or hemoglobin concentration ≤7 g/dL. METHOD: All casualties treated with LTOWB by IDF-CSAR providers from June 2018 to January 2021 were included. Demographic and prehospital treatment data were collected in order to check compliance and adherence to the IDF-MC guidelines. This is a follow-up retrospective report. RESULTS: Overall, 1,608 LTOWB units were supplied to the IDF-CSAR during the study period. Of these, 33 were transfused to 27 casualties; 17 (69%) with blunt injury, 8 (29.6%) with penetrating injuries, and 1 (3.7%) with gastrointestinal bleeding without trauma. The leading cause of injury was motor vehicle accidents. A total of 23 casualties received 1 unit of LTOWB, 3 received 2 units and 1 patient received 4 units. Two casualties were children. The median heart rate was 120 beats/min, 8 (29.6%) casualties had heart rates >130 beats/min. Median systolic blood pressure was 95 mm Hg, 7 (26%) casualties had blood pressure <90 mm Hg. The median Glasgow Coma Score was 14. No adverse reactions were documented following the administration of LTOWB. 77.8% of patients received LTOWB in adherence to the guidelines. CONCLUSION: Appropriate administration of LTOWB has improved over time in IDF-CSAR. Using LTOWB is feasible and simpler than administering packed red blood cells and plasma concurrently. Further efforts are needed to introduce LTOWB in other prehospital and in-hospital scenarios, with an increase in the maximum antibody titer threshold, to meet the expected increase in demand.

Early experience with transfusing low titer group O whole blood in the pre-hospital setting in Israel.

BACKGROUND: The Israeli Defense Force Medical Corps (IDF-MC) recently implemented the use of low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) in the airborne combat search and rescue unit (CSAR) for both military and civilian patients during transport to definitive care. LTOWB is preferentially used by the CSAR instead of red blood cell units and freeze-dried plasma (FDP) for patients with signs of hemorrhagic shock. Ten percent of group O donors were eligible to donate LTOWB as they had anti-A and -B IgM titers of <50. METHODS: All patients treated by CSAR providers with LTOWB between July 2018 and June 2019 were included. RESULTS: Between July 2018 and June 2019, eight patients have received 10 units of LTOWB. All patients suffered blunt injuries, 6 out of 8 (75%) of whom were due to motor vehicle accidents. Four patients (4 out of 8, 50%) received a single LTOWB unit, two patients (2 out of 8, 25%) received two units. Two pediatric patients received fewer than one unit of LTOWB. Median (range) heart rate was 130 (30-150) bpm, median systolic blood pressure was 107 (80-124) mmHg, and median Glasgow coma scale was 8 (on a scale of 3-15). For four (4 out of 8, 50%) patients, LTOWB was the only blood product used for volume resuscitation. All six adult patients were treated with 1 g of tranexamic acid at the point of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The CSAR has successfully implemented a LTOWB program for the pre-hospital treatment of bleeding patients, and as its experience grows this product will be made available to other units and in civilian hospitals.

Cognitive and physical performance are well preserved following standard blood donation: A noninferiority, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: A walking blood bank (WBB) refers to the use of fellow combatants for battlefield blood donation. This requires pretesting combatants for infectious diseases and blood type. A fundamental prerequisite for this technique is that the donating soldier will suffer minimal physiological and mental impact. The purpose of the current study is to assess the effect of blood shedding on battlefield performance. METHODS: This is a double-blind randomized control trial. Forty Israel Defense Forces combatants volunteered for the study. Participants underwent baseline evaluation, including repeated measurement of vital signs, cognitive evaluation, physical evaluation, and a strenuous shooting test. Three weeks after the baseline evaluation, subjects were randomized to either blood donation or the control group. For blinding purposes, all subjects underwent venous catheterization for the duration of a blood donation. Repeated vital signs and function evaluation were then performed. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were available for randomization. Baseline measurements were similar for both groups. Mean strenuous shooting score was 80.5 ± 9.5 for the control group and 82 ± 6.6 for the test group (p = 0.58). No clinically or statistically significant differences were found in tests designed to evaluate cognitive performance or physical functions. Vital signs taken multiple times were also similar between the test and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Executive, cognitive, and physical functions were well preserved after blood donation. This study supports the hypothesis that a WBB does not decrease donor combat performance. The categorical prohibition of physical exercise following blood donation might need to be reconsidered in both military and civilian populations.

Freeze-dried plasma stability under prehospital field conditions.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of routine, uncontrolled, Israeli field storage conditions on the stability and efficacy of Lyo-Plas N freeze-dried plasma (FDP). We evaluated clotting factors V, VIII, and XI; proteins S and C; fibrinogen; partial thromboplastin time (PTT); antithrombin III (ATIII); von Willebrand factor (VWF); and international normalized ratio (INR) in FDP stored at 4°C, 25°C, and 40°C for 6 and 12 months, as well as FDP returned from field units after uncontrolled storage for 15 months (manufacturer's shelf life). METHODS AND MATERIALS: After reconstitution, clotting factor levels were compared to those of freshly supplied FDP doses. RESULTS: At 4°C for 12 months, factor V decreased slightly. At 25°C, average fibrinogen and factor V content were significantly lower at both periods, and INR was higher after 12 months. At 40°C, all samples were out of normal range in at least one clotting factor after 6 or 12 months. After field storage for 15 months, fibrinogen, factors V and XI, PTT, and protein S were significantly decreased, and INR increased. However, these levels were still within laboratory norms. Statistically significant difference in clotting factors compared to laboratory normal range was found in INR (higher) and factor V (lower). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show minimal decreases in clotting factors in FDP after storage under field conditions, when compared to laboratory normal ranges. Along with the many advantages of FDP, this supports its use at the point of injury under battlefield conditions, despite uncontrolled storage environments. Under controlled storage conditions at 4°C, shelf life could possibly be extended, although further study is required.

Rubrum Coelis: The Contribution of Real-Time Telementoring in Acute Trauma Scenarios-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Most deaths in military trauma occur soon after wounding, and demand immediate on scene interventions. Although hemorrhage predominates as the cause of potentially preventable death, airway obstruction and tension pneumothorax are also frequent. First responders caring for casualties in operational settings often have limited clinical experience.Introduction: We hypothesized that communications technologies allowing for real-time communications with a senior medically experienced provider might assist in the efficacy of first responding to catastrophic trauma.Methods: Thirty-three basic life saving (BLS) medics were randomized into two groups: either receiving telementoring support (TMS, n = 17) or no telementoring support (NTMS, n = 16) during the diagnosis and resuscitation of a simulated critical battlefield casualty. In addition to basic life support, all medics were required to perform a procedure needle thoracentesis (not performed by BLS medics in Israel) for the first time. TMS was performed by physicians through an internet link. Performance was assessed during the simulation and later on review of videos.Results: The TMS group was significantly more successful in diagnosing (82.35% vs. 56.25%, p = 0.003) and treating pneumothorax (52.94% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.035). However, needle thoracentesis time was slightly longer for the TMS group versus the NTMS group (1:24 ± 1:00 vs. 0:49 ± 0:21 minu, respectively (p = 0.016). Complete treatment time was 12:56 ± 2:58 min for the TMS group, versus 9:33 ± 3:17 min for the NTMS group (p = 0.003).Conclusions: Remote telementoring of basic life support performed by military medics significantly improved the medics' ability to perform an unfamiliar lifesaving procedure at the cost of prolonging time needed to provide care. Future studies must refine the indications and contraindications for using telemedical support.

Transoceanic Telementoring of Tube Thoracostomy Insertion: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Telementored Versus Unmentored Insertion of Tube Thoracostomy by Military Medical Technicians.

Background:Tension pneumothorax is a frequent cause of potentially preventable death. Tube thoracostomy (TT) can obviate death but is invasive and fraught with complications even in experienced hands. We assessed the utility of a remote international virtual network (RIVN) of specialized mentors to remotely guide military medical technicians (medics) using wireless informatics.Methods:Medics were randomized to insert TT in training mannequins (TraumaMan; Abacus ALS, Meadowbrook, Australia) supervised by RIVN or not. The RIVN consisted of trauma surgeons in Canada and Australia and a senior medic in Ohio. Medics wore a helmet-mounted wireless camera with laser pointer to confirm anatomy and two-way voice communication using commercial software (Skype®). Performance was measured through objective task completion (pass/fail) regarding safety during the procedure, proper location, and secure anchoring of the tube, in addition to remote mentor opinion and subjective debrief.Results:Fourteen medics attempted TT, seven mentored and seven not. The RIVN was functional and surgeons on either side of the globe had real-time communication with the mentees. TT placement was considered safe, successful, and secure in 100% of mentored (n = 7) procedures, although two (29%) received corrective remote guidance. All (100%) of the unmentored attempted and adequately secured the TT and were safe. However, only 71% (n = 5) completed the task successfully (p = 0.46). Participating medics subjectively felt remote telementoring (RTM) increased self-confidence (strong agreement mean 5/5 ± 0); confidence to perform field TT (agreement (4/5 ± 1); and decreased anxiety (strong agreement 5/5 ± 1). Subjectively, the remote mentors felt in 100% of the mentored procedures that "yes" they were able to assist the medics (1.86 ± 0.38), and in 71% (n = 5) felt "yes" they made TT safer (2.29 ± 0.49).Conclusions:RTM descriptively increased the success of TT placement and allowed for real-time troubleshooting from thousands of kilometers with a redundant capability. RTM was subjectively associated with high levels of satisfaction and self-reported self-confidence. Continued controlled and critical evaluation and refinement of telemedical techniques should continue. Trial Registration: ID ISRCTN/77929274.