Creation of an Anesthesia Resuscitation Kit (ARK) for Prolonged Field Care of Military Casualties with Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Prolonged Field Care (PFC) is a military adaptation aimed at providing pre-hospital care in delayed extrication from austere settings. Providing PFC is challenging due to a lack of standardized medical equipment and size/weight restrictions of military packs during dismounted operations. In this study, we sought to design a standardized, practical, and effective Anesthesia Resuscitation Kit (ARK) with the goal of improving implementation of PFC. Objectives: Our long-term objective is to develop effective PCC guidelines and equipment for battlefield medics and physicians. b. Specific aims: 1. Create a tri-service consensus handbook for the provision of Prolonged Casualty Care (PCC) with a particular focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes in collaboration with key stakeholder units that drive military medical practices. 2. Develop a novel prototype of a field Anesthesia Resuscitation Kit (ARK) optimized for PCC in polytrauma patients to maximize TBI and hemorrhagic shock survival while minimizing progression of TBI (TBIPHRP IDA Focus Areas 2.b and 3.a). Sub-Aim 2a. Determine contents of ARK based on complete weight-, volume- and cost-based evaluation of components, and develop Long-Range Medical Backpack to carry ARK in the field. Sub-Aim 2b. Test ARK effectiveness in a swine model of hemorrhagic shock and TBI to evaluate brain lesion size and survival rate compared to care at a simulated Role-2 MTF. Sub-Aim 2c. Following product delivery, conduct survey to determine whether stakeholder units believe the finalized handbook and ARK will significantly enhance their ability to deliver PCC.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2023
Accession Number
AD1222282

Entities

People

  • Hasan B Alam
  • Jessie Ho
  • Toby P. Keeney-bonthrone
  • Zaiba S. Dawood

Organizations

  • Northwestern University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Software Engineering.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine