Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Flag 1
I would think one element would be a heat source. This to control bleeding and provide a means to keep the wound "clean".
I do believe that ice and a tourniquet were used as a means of blunting pain for the surgical event in the 1860's with fairly good success. Doubt that is any of the answer you are looking for though.
That leaves the actual method of amputation. I wonder if a wire, not unlike a Gigley Saw could be used?
Other things come to mind like a passing train, or shotgun blast to finish the job.
This is really a pretty good question SS!
My $.02.
RF 1
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I do believe that ice and a tourniquet were used as a means of blunting pain for the surgical event in the 1860's with fairly good success. Doubt that is any of the answer you are looking for though.
good call.....no cut..if ice is available the limb is packed in ice with tourniquet in place. No pain (nerve dies after tourniquet on long enough and the limb will not release its evil humors with such a slow metabolic rate and you can preserve normal physiology while waiting to do formal (cut) amputation. This practice is old but still used...works very well on patients that have little ability to tolerate the amputation acutely or need more time to deal with the issues. Mostly used for gangrene issues in days past but is a useful technique if a) ice is available, b) no one around who can do proper amputation.
The hot wire won't work to well but the poker in the fire was a method used to cauterize a vessel....thread/rope/twine is always better on a larger vessel or just keep the tourniquet on above the site of amputation until definitive care can be performed on the amputation site.
Ice is not available on most field deployments but if someone can be casevac'ed and no one around to do amp back in a field aid area/hospital....ice it with tourniquet.
ss
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'Revel in action, translate perceptions into instant judgements, and these into actions that are irrevocable, monumentous and dreadful - all this with lightning speed, in conditions of great stress and in an environment of high tension:what is expected of "us" is the impossible, yet we deliver just that.
(adapted from: Sherwin B. Nuland, MD, surgeon and author: The Wisdom of the Body, 1997 )
Education is the anti-ignorance we all need to better treat our patients. ss, 2008.
The blade is so sharp that the incision is perfect. They don't realize they've been cut until they're out of the fight: A Surgeon Warrior. I use a knife to defend life and to save it. ss (aka traumadoc)
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