Military medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Use of the Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Following Traumatic Cardiac Arrest in Swine.
Standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is ineffective in treating traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) following hemorrhagic shock despite fluid resuscitation. CPR adjuncts, including abdominal compressions and external counter pressure, have shown some success in laboratory settings. The Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet (AAJT) is a device that occludes both venous and arterial blood at the level of the aortic bifurcation and likely increases thoracic pressure when applied to the abdomen. We developed a swine model of controlled hemorrhage to induce a state of TCA to test the ability of the AAJT to improve the efficacy of CPR. ⋯ These results suggest that the AAJT could allow for increased CPR efficacy in cases of TCA when used in conjunction with rapid, massive blood transfusions.