ABSTRACT

The authors examine two acute lung injuries (ALI) that can occur in the tactical setting - positive pressure pulmonary edema and inhalation injury - as well as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), all of which can quickly progress in a prolonged field care (PFC) environment. These conditions present complex problems to emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) teams worldwide, requiring intimate knowledge of their distinct disease pathophysiology and advanced critical care equipment. These challenges are compounded in the world of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) medic who often operates as the sole provider in environments with both limited resources and prolonged evacuation times. It is the hope of the authors that by breaking down these complex critical care topics and providing concrete guidance and treatment recommendations that we can ultimately improve the care SOF medics provide overseas in an austere operational environment.

ABSTRACT

As technology improves, the capabilities of prehospital providers increase. Innovations and realizations from military counterparts are being transitioned to civilian emergency care with the same hopes of increasing survivability of patients. Looking to the future, the incorporation of drone aircraft in the critical care field will likely impact the way medicine is practiced. Education is the key to improving outcomes in the prehospital setting.

ABSTRACT

Mechanical ventilation is machine-delivered flow of gases to both oxygenate and ventilate a patient who is unable to maintain physiological gas exchange, and positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) is the primary means of delivering invasive mechanical ventilation. The authors review invasive mechanical ventilation to give the Special Operations Force (SOF) medic a comprehensive conceptual understanding of a core application of critical care medicine.

Keywords: Mechanical Ventilation; invasive ventilation; ventilator; portable ventilator

The JSOM podcast digs deeper into the articles and subjects that matter to our readers. Our podcast hosts, Captains Alex Merkle and Josh Randles, tackle articles from the journal based on merit, interest, and application for operators in the field.

Current Episode

The Summer 2022 podcast features articles written primarily by medics and non-physicians. This entire edition of the journal is focused on the Critical Care aspect of SOF Medicine, so we wanted to invite the tip of the spear medics to talk about their research on this episode. The first article is, "Analgesia and Sedation in the Prehospital Setting: A Critical Care Viewpoint" by Taylor DeRosiersm et. al. "Mechanical Ventilation: A Review for Special Operations Medical Personnel" by Jonathan Friedman and Seth Assar follows. We finish up with, "Airway Management With Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation" by Papalski, Siedler, and Callaway.

The Journal of Special Operations Medicine is proud to have the support of many great sponsors and media partners. Our sponsors are leaders in the field of military medical technology. Please help support these companies by following the links below to learn more about their missions and the products they offer. This section also features peridoic promtional information for events and conferences, including the 2023 SOMA Scientific Assembly. 

The University of Pittsburgh’s Trauma and Transfusion Medicine Research Program, Center for Military Medicine Research, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in partnership with Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research, are proud to announce the HEmostatic REsuscitation and Trauma Induced Coagulopathy (HERETIC) Symposium CMMR/TTMRC/THOR happening October 11 and 12, 2022 at the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Service Members and veterans who experience head injuries are more likely to develop depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for depression, but in-person sessions aren’t always realistic. We’re testing the effectiveness of a new CBT digital therapeutic program that was developed for current or former military personnel. This is a remote research study. No in-person visits are required. Interested in learning more?

Contact Us

Call or Text: 301-461-4322

Email: CNRM-D@usuhs.edu

The Combat Medical Care Conference and the 1st Special Operation Forces Medical Headquarter / French Military Medical Service are partnering for an international medical conference in Paris. The Paris Special Operation Forces Combat Medical Care Conference will be an international symposium dedicated to physicians and paramedics involved in Special Forces Operational Medicine.

All personnel involved in special operations medical support are invited to join this great event: military physicians, anesthesiologists, emergency physicians, nurses, specialized nurses, paramedics, trauma surgeons, specialized surgeons. Due to confidential aspects this conference is only for military personal. Limited to approximately 250 people. For more information, click on the link below and visit the website.

The JSOM is incredibly grateful to have the support of many institutions around the world. We would like to thank our recent institutional subscribers and re-subscribers for their support by acknowledging them in our eNewsletter and, when applicable, sharing their social media information.

In this edition, we welcome back several renewed subscriptions!

Arkansas State University, Little Rock, Arkansas

United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Florida

United States Department of State - Bureau of Diplomatic Security

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia

Defence Research and Development Canada Library, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Visit https://jsom.us/Library for a full list of institutions currently subscribing to the JSOM. We are beginning a campaign to expand our institutional subscriptions. If you think your company would benefit from an institutional subscription, let us know! We'll be happy to talk to you and get the ball rolling. You don't have to be a university or medical center to subscribe - we have many EMS units, government agencies, and military medical units in the United States and abroad.

Are you on the list? Great! Need to know how to access our resources? You can either contact your head librarian or shoot an email to subscriptions@JSOMonline.org.

Institutions receive a print copy of our journal, digital access, or both. Digital subscribers have unlimited access to our full compendium of articles, journals, and the ATP-P. If you are a student, researcher, doctor, or other medical professionals at one of these institutions, please contact your librarian for login details. Additionally, the digital resources are typically available 2-3 weeks ahead of print publication.

If your institution is not on the list and you want more information about our institutional access, contact our subscriptions manager, Dr. Scott Graverson.

LANDSTUHL, RP, GERMANY

U.S Army photo by Sgt. April Benson 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa

DVIDS

German Staff Sgt. Marcus Gereshuber (center) directs Czech Republic, German, and U.S. team members while treating a simulated casualty at the Landstuhl Medical Simulation Center, in Landstuhl, Germany, August 8-12th, 2022.



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