Prehospital Thoracotomy: A Commentary

Authors

  • Ahmed Alsuliamani Department of Emergency Medicine, King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Rizq Badawi Department of Emergency Medicine, King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52609/jmlph.v4i1.121

Keywords:

traumatic cardiac arrest, prehospital thoracotomy, paramedic training, needle thoracotomy, prehospital ultrasound, tamponade needle decompression

Abstract

Traumatic cardiac arrest is a critical condition with potentially rectifiable causes, such as airway obstruction, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, or exsanguinating bleeding. The evolution of advanced prehospital trauma care has led to increased consideration of prehospital thoracotomy, an invasive procedure aimed at rapidly identifying the cause of arrest and implementing temporary measures to improve survival. While studies have reported promising outcomes, the appropriateness of performing prehospital thoracotomy, as well as its incorporation into the skill set of paramedics,both remain subjects of debate. This commentary examines the applicability, logistical challenges, and potential alternatives associated with prehospital thoracotomy in the context of traumatic cardiac arrest.

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Published

2021-04-28

How to Cite

Alsuliamani, A., & Badawi, R. . (2021). Prehospital Thoracotomy: A Commentary. The Journal of Medicine, Law & Public Health, 1(1), 19–21. https://doi.org/10.52609/jmlph.v4i1.121

Issue

Section

Commentary

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