Originally Posted by
onado2000
Yes I do work in an ICU and have cared for tons of people with pneumo/hemothorax, I do have experience. The subject matter I was discussing in particular was inserting a decompression needle into collapsing lung. Why would you do this in a ditch or in the middle of a firefight? Sealing the wound and sending him off to the field hospital ASAP. I agree patient assessment skills are the most valuable tool. My point was having these other tools instead of everyone with the same stuff. Ten guys all with the same dressings, tape and clotting agents, maybe one or two could have other equipment. Variety is the spice of life :D
A B/P cuff in itself is an excellent tourniquet, to the point of applying minimal pressure required to stop blood flow (having a stethoscope helps to determine that). This minimizes tissue damage & loss. I use a pulse ox to determine the % O2 bound to hemoglobin, and the need for O2. This way I don’t have to give him my 16% when I know he is getting enough of his own 21%. I have one in my bag; it’s about 2X2 inches, a few ounces and cost less than a cheap bolt carrier group. Heart rhythms are important part of assessment, patients in shock, trauma patients with muffled heart sounds. If I was going to insert any needle it would be an IV to start some saline.
Mike G, you’re going to criticize me for "heart rhythms"?
Please explain "concept of presentation of peripheral pulses and the implications on perfusion" and how that relates to assessing patients in the ditch and in shock. And how that subjective method is better than an "objective number".