Author Description

This is the 2014 update to the 2004 version. Information in this edition reflects lessons learned from American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and represents state-of-the-art principles and practices of forward trauma surgery. This publication is not a first aid manual and is intended for physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice medics and corpsmen involved in providing emergency medical and trauma care near the battle space. This publication expertly addresses the appropriate medical management of blast wounds, burns, multiple penetrating injuries, as well as other battle and non-battle injuries. Specific chapters cover the following topics: Weapons Effects and War Wounds-Treat the wound, not the weapon, explosive injuries, and ballistics injuries including 5.56mm and 7.62mm. Mass Casualty and Triage-Triage categories and decision making and emergency treatment area setup. Airway/Breathing-Initial airway management, ventilation, intubation, difficult airways, and surgical crichothyrotomy. Hemorrhage Control-Bleeding control, tourniquets, pressure points, dressings, bandages, hemostatic agents, and controlled hypotension. Shock, Resuscitation, and Vascular Access-Treatment of hypovolemic shock, vascular access, subclavian vein access, internal jugular venipuncture, saphenous vein cut downs, and intraosseous infusion. Anesthesia-Indications, rapid sequence intubation, indications and dosing recommendations for narcotics and muscle relaxants. Soft Tissue and Open Joint Injuries-Pre-surgical care, surgical wound management, and wound care. Infections-Diagnosis of a wound infection, common microorganisms causing battlefield infections, recommendations to prevent infections associated with combat related injuries, antimicrobial agent selection including preferred agents and alternate agents with appropriate administration and dosing guidelines. Criti