DocM Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Score one more for emergency medicine. MedGadget.... Ex-Army Physicians Develop Tourniquet to Slow Abdominal Bleeding in SoldiersTwo emergency physicians with some impressive war-time credentials, from Georgia Health Sciences University and Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, have developed a device to prevent severe abdominal bleeding in soldiers. According to the inventors, when a soldier is shot in the abdomen severe bleeding occurs due to rupturing of the major vessels in this region, making it a common target for insurgents and a difficult fix for the field medics. Due to the shape and size of the abdomen, it is difficult to apply a tourniquet or effectively apply external compression. To overcome this problem, the physicians have come up with an inflatable, wedge-shaped bladder embedded into the abdominal aortic tourniquet. The device is wrapped around the body at the navel level,tightened and inflated into the abdomen until it occludes the aorta and stops the bleeding, hopefully increasing the chances of survival. So far the device has undergone testing in animals and humans to demonstrate proof of concept. The inventors have also received premarket clearance for the abdominal aortic tourniquet from the FDA and some early orders from the military. They believe the device may also be used to control drug delivery during CPR in the future. We can envision this device being used on patients who arrive to ORs with ruptured AAAs, prior to undergoing endovascular or open AAA repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 when a soldier is shot in the abdomen ... How about we don't let them get shot in the first place. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinggus Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Hum, soldiers can get shot during training accidents as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 And civilians can have ruptured aneurysms, injuries, etc. where this treatment would be very useful. Fact is a LOT of treauma medicine techniques have originated on the battlefield, or in military research projects like those done at DARPA. They've probably saved far more lives than have been lost in wars since WW-II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 And civilians can have ruptured aneurysms, injuries, etc. where this treatment would be very useful. Fact is a LOT of treauma medicine techniques have originated on the battlefield, or in military research projects like those done at DARPA. They've probably saved far more lives than have been lost in wars since WW-II. Super Glue FTW! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 Donh't laugh - surgical versions of super-glue have been used since the Vietnam War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Donh't laugh - surgical versions of super-glue have been used since the Vietnam War. Oh, I don't laugh. I actually owe it to super glue. Was at the lake in some remote area as a kid. I ended up stepping on a broken bottle, almost cutting my little toe off. Was just flapping around basically. My Dad had some super glue that was non toxic, and glued my toe back together. I swear by that stuff now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dick Montage Subscriber² Posted January 19, 2012 Subscriber² Share Posted January 19, 2012 My head was superglued back together. Damn it felt hot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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