Tactical Combat Casualty Care 09 SEP 02 Tactical Combat Casualty Care Troy R Johnson, MD MAJ, USA, MC, FS
Dec 15, 2015
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Tactical Combat Casualty Care
Troy R Johnson, MDMAJ, USA, MC, FS
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Agenda
ObjectivesMortality in CombatPreventable mortalityCare under fireTactical Casualty careEvacuationMilitary vs. Civilian tactical care
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Discussion Objectives
1. Identify the top two causes of preventable combat mortality
2. List three methods of controlling hemorrhage in the field
3. Write both two-condition criteria for diagnosis of tension pneumothorax
4. Outline additional equipment and skills available with evacuation assets
5. Compare and contrast civilian and military tactical medical care
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Caveats When Applying Civilian
LiteratureDifferent weaponsLess pre-existing dehydrationPre-hospital timeSurgical interventionResourceMonitoringThreat
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
Killed in Action(86% KIA)
versus
Died of Wounds(12% DOW)
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
31% are due to penetrating head
trauma
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
25% are due to surgically
uncorrectable penetrating torso
trauma
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
10% are due to potentially correctable
penetrating torso trauma
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
9% are due to potentially correctable
extremity trauma
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
7% are due to mutilating blast
injuries
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
5% are due to tension
pneumothorax
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
KIA
1% are due to airway
obstruction
(1/2 actual airway)
(1/2 decreased LOC)
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Combat Mortality
DOW
12% are mostly due to
complicationsof shock or
late infection
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Serious Wounds in Vietnam Surviving to
FacilityFaceEyes 5% Neck
Cervical Spine1%
ThoraxThoracic Spine 5% Abdomen
Lumbar SpinePelvis8%
Head 4%
Extremitiesbony & neural28%
Soft Tissues 44%
Multiple sites with major injuries 5%
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
PREVENTABLE Mortality
Airway obstruction (6%)
Tension pneumothorax (33%)
Hemorrhage from extremity wounds (60%)
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Tactical Combat Casualty Care
Care Under Fire
Tactical Field Care
Evacuation Care
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Return fire
Return fire
Return fire
Care Under Fire
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Return fire
What does returning fire have to do with medical care?
Care Under Fire
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Return fire
What does returning fire have to do with medical care?
Victory is the best medicine !!
Care Under Fire
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
1. Move the casualty to cover
2. Don’t get shot while trying to do #1
Care Under Fire
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Top priority is early control of life-threatening external hemorrhage!Exsanguination from extremity wounds is
the number one cause of preventable death on the battlefield
Hemorrhage from extremity wounds was the cause of death in more than 2500 casualties in Vietnam who had no other injuries
Care Under Fire
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Top priority is early control of life-threatening external hemorrhage!Exsanguination from extremity wounds is
the number one cause of preventable death on the battlefield
Hemorrhage from extremity wounds was the cause of death in more than 2500 casualties in Vietnam who had no other injuries
What are the options for control in this setting?
Care Under Fire
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Hemorrhage Control
Dressing
Pressure dressing
Tourniquet
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Discouraged in the civilian settingMost reasonable initial choice to
stop life-threatening bleedingDirect pressure is hard to maintain
during casualty movementThe risk-benefit ratio
Tourniquets
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Ischemic damage to an extremity is rare if the tourniquet is left in place less than 60-90 min
Surgical/anesthesia literature states 5 min off every 30 mins after tourniquet has been on for 120 min
Risk/Benefit ratio
Tourniquets
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Return fireDon’t be a heroFind cover for yourself and your
casualtyStop any life-threatening external
hemorrhage
Care Under Fire
Questions?
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Reduced risk/warm zoneCover/ConcealmentVariable amount of time
availableMissionCasualty evacuation
Field conditionsTemperature and weatherDarknessNon-sterile environment
Tactical Field Care
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Stop bleedingTransport casualty to extraction
siteIf tourniquet used earlier
Consider loosening then reassessingTry direct pressure to control bleedingMay be able to remove tourniquet
Expose/Environment
External Hemorrhage
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
No attempt at airway intervention if the casualty is conscious and breathing well on his or her own
Airway Management:Conscious Casualty
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Usual cause is hemorrhagic shock or penetrating head trauma
Manual correction optionsChin lift/jaw thrust maneuverNasopharyngeal airwayGravity positioning
Low-yield for immobilization of cervical spine
Airway Management:Altered Mental Status
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Liquid removal optionsGravitySuction
Definitive airway optionsEndotracheal intubationCricothyroidostomy
Airway Management:Obstruction
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Breathing
Tension PneumothoraxAuscultationTracheal deviationPercussionJVD
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
AuscultationSeventy-one patients (60%) had a
hemothorax, pneumothorax, or hemopneumothorax. Auscultation to detect hemothorax, pneumothorax, or hemopneumothorax had a sensitivity of 58%, a specificity of 98%, and a positive predictive value of 98%.
Chen SC. Markmann JF. Kauder DR. Schwab CW. Hemopneumothorax missed by auscultation in penetrating chest injury. Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 42(1):86-9, 1997 Jan
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Auscultation
Thirty of 71 patients (42%) were found to have pleural space blood or air missed by auscultation. Auscultation missed hemothorax up to 600 mL, pneumothorax up to 28%, and hemopneumothorax up to 800 mL and 28%.
Chen SC. Markmann JF. Kauder DR. Schwab CW. Hemopneumothorax missed by auscultation in penetrating chest injury. Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 42(1):86-9, 1997 Jan
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Auscultation
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Auscultation with Stab Wounds
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Auscultation with GSW Wounds
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Tension Pneumothorax
Deceased preloadIncreased afterloadMechanical pressure on heartDecreased Alveolar surfacePleural space agitation
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Casualties with penetrating chest trauma will generally have some degree of hemopneumothorax
Additional trauma from needle thoracentesis will not significantly worsen casualties’ conditions if no pneumothorax present
Needle Thoracentesis
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Emergently decompress affected hemithorax with 14-gauge needle inserted over 3rd rib in 2nd inter-costal space at mid-clavicular line
Needle Thoracentesis
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Contraindicated for life-threatening tension pneumothorax
Difficult to performInfection risk higher when inserting
tube in non-sterile conditionsPrior to Evacuation?
Tube Thoracostomy
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Seal defect through which air moving and cover with dressingAllow for pressure releaseDifficult to do reliably in tactical settingObserve closely for development of
tension pneumothorax
Asherman valve may be option
Open Pneumothorax
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Controversial the tactical environment
Cylinders of compressed gas heavy and risky for tactical operations
Transportation of casualty difficult without vehicle
Supplemental Oxygen
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Shock Management
Shock is a state of inadequate organ perfusion
Diagnosed by noting end-organ dysfunctionAltered mental statusPoor peripheral perfusionAnxiety
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Shock Management
Therapeutic goalsIncrease oxygenation of blood
Increased trans-alveolar oxygenIncreased hemoglobin concentration
Increase cardiac outputIncreased preloadIncreased stroke volume
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
IV accessCleaning the skin before
venipunctureSaline lock should be used unless
casualty requires immediate fluid resuscitation
Flushing the lock with 5 mL of normal saline every 2 hours will usually keep it open
Intravenous Access
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Controlled Hemorrhage: Without
ShockNO immediate fluid resuscitationSave IV fluids for those who
really need themNo unnecessary tactical delays –
do not wait 5 minutes to start an IV in this patient
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Controlled Hemorrhage: With
ShockAdminister IV fluids in boluses to
correct end-organ dysfunction0.9% (normal) or 3% saline solutionsLactated Ringer’s solution6% hetastarch [Hespan®]
DO NOT use normal vital signs as endpoints for fluid resuscitationIncreased blood pressureHemoglobin, platelets, and clotting factors
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Uncontrolled Hemorrhage: With or
Without ShockNO immediate fluid resuscitationSpend time controlling
exsanguinationExternalInternal
Save IV fluidsPermissive hypotension
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Only in cases of nontraumatic cardiac arrest should CPR be considered prior to EvacuationElectrocutionHypothermiaNear-drowning
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Minimize further contaminationPromote hemostasisCheck for additional wounds
Exit sites may be remote from entrySome sites are easily overlooked
Splint fractures and recheck distal pulses
Analgesic medicationsAntibiotic medications
Additional Considerations
Questions?
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Evacuation
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
CASEVACCasualty evacuation from the battlefield
MEDEVACMedical evacuation of casualties
CASEVAC versus MEDEVAC
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Medical personnel may accompany evacuating assetNo reliance on field personnel providing
careMedical personnel operating in tactical
vehicle
Additional medical equipment may be available on evacuation platformVariable
CASEVAC Care
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
CASEVAC Care
Primary focus is clearing casualties off the battlefield and not medical care enroute
Adaptability is key
Maximize your mission within the CASEVAC mission
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
CASEVAC Care
Tactical aircraft/vehicles have restrictions against white lightLaryngoscopesBlood identificationWound identification
Black out sheets
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
MEDEVAC Care
Medical personnel part of assetMedical personnel operating vehicle
designed for them
Additional medical equipment available on evacuation platformOxygenSuctionMonitoringPositioning
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
MEDEVAC Care
Difficult to get far-forwardNo part of assault planningCommunications
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
MEDEVAC Care
FLA UH-60QCombat medicAugmentationCCATTStrategic MEDEVAC
Questions?
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Military vs Civilian Tactical Medical Support
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Military vs. Civilian Tactical Medical
SupportLines are purlingProximity to Tertiary level of careAdditional resourcesAcceptance of casualtiesPhilosophy
Offense vs. defenseContainment vs. destruction
Tactical Combat Casualty Care09 SEP 02
Questions ?