Effectiveness of Pulse Oximetry Versus Doppler for Tourniquet Monitoring

Tourniquet self-application assessment in cold weather conditions

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.

Tourniquets, types and techniques in emergency prehospital care: A narrative review

Massive uncontrolled hemorrhage is an important cause of preventable death in trauma. Therefore, applying an arterial tourniquet (TQ) is recommended as a pre-hospital measure to control bleeding after severe traumatic bleeding. Limb TQ applies circumferential compression proximally to the injury site to compress the arteries, resulting in blood flow and consequently hemorrhage interruption. The use of commercial tourniquets (C-TQ), which are designed, tested, and registered to control hemorrhages in pre-hospital care, is a consensus. However, they are still uncommon in many prehospital emergency services and the overall level of evidence in most studies is low. This narrative review aimed to characterize the importance of tourniquets use in prehospital emergency care and its application techniques. Furthermore, it proposes to stimulate the development of new devices, more accessible and easier to use, to suggest new directions of studies and medical education demands, with manikin and simulation development.