1 / 15

Combat application tourniquet (CAT)

Combat application tourniquet (CAT). Rachel Keys. Uses. To stop arterial blood flow in an extremity Can be applied one-handed or two-handed Military Stop blood flow if injured in battlefield Lightweight and easy to carry Emergency medicine Good for trauma scenes

barbarai
Download Presentation

Combat application tourniquet (CAT)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Combat application tourniquet (CAT) Rachel Keys

  2. Uses • To stop arterial blood flow in an extremity • Can be applied one-handed or two-handed • Military • Stop blood flow if injured in battlefield • Lightweight and easy to carry • Emergency medicine • Good for trauma scenes • Helps with patient transfer – good adherence Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  3. Adult Trauma Life Support (ATLS) • The combat application tourniquet can be used in ATLS • ATLS follows the CABCDE framework • The first C stands for Catastrophic Haemorrhage • Stop any obvious major bleeding sites – if a limb, the combat application tourniquet can be used Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  4. Tourniquet Friction buckle Band Rod locking clip and self adhering band Windlass rod Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  5. Two Handed Application – Step 1 • Place tourniquet proximal to bleeding site • Wrap the band around the limb • Pass the band through the inside opening of the buckle • Pull the band tight Inside opening Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  6. Step 2 • Place the band through the outside opening of the buckle • Pull the band tight Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  7. Step 3 • Secure the band back on itself Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  8. Step 4 • Twist the rod until the bleeding stops • Check the distal pulse is eliminated Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  9. Step 5 • Lock the rod in place in the clip • Check bleeding and distal pulse • Tighten tourniquet or add a second one if bleeding is not controlled Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  10. Final Step • Secure the rod with the strap • Record time of application 13:00 Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  11. Complications • Continuous application may result in ischemia and cause; • Permanent nerve injury • Muscle injury, including rhabdomyolysis • Skin necrosis • Vascular injury • Compartment syndrome • Due to increased pressure within the compartment • If the tourniquet is not tightened enough and impedes only venous blood, arterial blood will be allowed into the area with no return, leading to compartment syndrome Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  12. Complications • Reperfusion injury may result from tourniquet use • The restoration of circulation results in inflammation and oxidative damage • Slow release • A policy of periodic loosening of a tourniquet in an attempt to reduce limb ischemia has often led to incremental exsanguination and death Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  13. In the Emergency Department • The combat application tourniquet is kept in the bleeding drawer Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB

  14. Bleeding drawer • In the bleeding drawer you can also find; Haemostatic gauze T-POD Pelvic Stabiliser Percutaneous sheath introducer Traction splint Rachel Keys 3rd Year Medical Student QUB Ambu Perfit ACE collar

  15. Any Questions?

More Related