title: Issues related to the use of tourniquets on the battlefield.
abstract: On the battlefield, a properly applied tourniquet can be an extremely effective means of controlling severe extremity wound hemorrhage. However, a great deal of confusion exists among soldiers, medics, and military medical officers on a number of tourniquet-related issues. What is an appropriate combat tourniquet? When is it appropriate to use a tourniquet? When and by whom should a tourniquet be removed? Under what conditions should a tourniquet not be released or removed? What are the most effective ways to increase limb salvage while using a tourniquet? These and other issues were addressed by a panel of experts at the 2003 Advanced Technology Applications for Combat Casualty Care Conference, August 21 and 23, 2003, St. Pete Beach, Florida. Here we review those issues and present a summary of the panel's recommendations.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Combat Casualty Care Research Program, 3400 Rawley E. Chambers Ave., Building R, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Mabry
mesh_terms: D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare