Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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Background: The role of pelvic circumferential compression devices (PCCD) is to temporarily stabilize the pelvic ring, reduce its volume and to tamponade bleeding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PCCDs on mortality and bleeding in severely injured trauma patients, using a large registry database. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients registered in the Trauma Register DGU® between 2015 and 2016. ⋯ Conclusion: PCCD was applied more often in patients with severe pelvic trauma according to ISS and AISpelvis as well with deterioration in circulatory status. PCCDs did not reduce mortality or reduce the need for blood transfusion. Trial registration: TR-DGU ID 2017-003, March 2017; German clinical trial register DRKS00024948.
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Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) are rare in wilderness and mountain settings. Few case studies have reported the response of such events within jurisdictions with well-developed trauma and emergency medical services systems (EMS). Here we explore a MCI in a wilderness setting on the Columbia Icefield inside the Jasper National Park within the Canadian Rocky Mountains. ⋯ Readers are reminded of the importance of aeromedical surge capacity in allowing for effective distribution of patients to multiple receiving facilities. Our experience aligns with and reinforces many of the recommendations for wilderness MCI management; however, future research should focus on determining optimal triage strategies for mountain MCIs. Furthermore, future research should explore optimal strategies for developing a rescue chain given the availability of mixed transport resources, as well as the role of physicians in MCI response and where they are best placed in the incident command system.