Tourniquet self-application assessment in cold weather conditions

Yánez Benítez, Carlos ; Lorente-Aznar, Teófilo ; Labaka, Idurre ; Ribeiro Jr, Marcelo A. F. ; Viteri, Yosu ; Morishita, Koji ; Baselga, Marta ; Güemes, Antonio (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Background: Our study aimed to assess the ability of nonmedical civilians to self-apply extremity tourniquets in cold weather conditions while wearing insulating technical clothing after receiving basic training.
Methods: A field study was conducted among 37 voluntary participants of an expedition party to the Spanish Antarctic base. The researchers assessed the participant’s ability to self-apply five commercial extremity tourniquets (CAT, OMNA, RMT, SWAT-T, and RATS) over cold-weather clothing and their achieved effectiveness for vascular occlusion. Upper extremity self-application was performed with a single-handed technique (OHT), and lower extremity applying a two-handed technique (THT). Perceptions of self-application ease mean values ± standard deviation (SD) were compared by applying a 5% statistical significance threshold. Frequency count determined tourniquet preference.
Results: All the tested ETs, except the SWAT-T, were properly self-applied with an OHT, resulting in effective vascular occlusion in the upper extremity. The five devices tested were self-applied correctly in the lower extremities using THT. The ratcheting marine-designed OMNA ranked the highest for application easiness on both the upper and lower extremities, and the windlass CAT model was the preferred device by most participants.
Conclusions: Civilian extremity tourniquet self-application on both upper and lower extremities can be accomplished in cold weather conditions despite using cold-weather gloves and technical clothing after receiving brief training. The ratcheting marine-designed OMNA ranked the highest for application ease, and the windlass CAT model was the preferred device.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00871-1

Año: 2023

Publicado en: BMC Emergency Medicine 23 (2023), 101 [8 pp.]
ISSN: 1471-227X

Factor impacto JCR: 2.3 (2023)

Categ. JCR: EMERGENCY MEDICINE rank: 13 / 54 = 0.241 (2023) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.5 - Emergency Medicine (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.745 - Emergency Medicine (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Cirugía (Dpto. Cirugía)