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swatsurgeon · 11-08-2005, 14:44

Max Tab,
I have a copy of the 2 articles
-Laboratory Evaluation of Battlefield Tourniquets and Issues Related to the Use of Tourniquets on the Battlefield, both done by U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.
They compared the CAT, SOFTT, Hemodyne, EMT, LRT, SATS and MAT tourniquets....concluding that the best stoppers of arterial blood flow , i.e., % effective, pain with application, pain/pinch of device, and malfunction was the EMT, CAT and SOFTT.
As they concluded, the EMT which is pneumatic is impractical for forward field use by the individual operator, the CAT having velcro can fail with that and must be , usually, overtightened to have 100% arterial occlusion, and the SOFTT same overtightening problem, smaller width and small excursions per wrap of the windlass.
We put the MAT to the test and it stops arterial flow to the click of the turnkey, only tightening enough to stop flow as per our doppler on the distal artery, no failures that were not the fault of the person 'abusing' it...we tortured it to make it fail.
I certainly believe the data presented and can reproduce almost all of it except not having the problems with the MAT that they did. (no, I have no alignment or association with any company, we remain objective). Hence by endorsement of the MAT...it may never make it into the hands of all active duty personnel, but for civilian tactical medics and the like, I stand behind it.

ss

11-08-2005, 14:44	#16
swatsurgeon Guerrilla Chief Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 880	Max Tab, I have a copy of the 2 articles -Laboratory Evaluation of Battlefield Tourniquets and Issues Related to the Use of Tourniquets on the Battlefield, both done by U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. They compared the CAT, SOFTT, Hemodyne, EMT, LRT, SATS and MAT tourniquets....concluding that the best stoppers of arterial blood flow , i.e., % effective, pain with application, pain/pinch of device, and malfunction was the EMT, CAT and SOFTT. As they concluded, the EMT which is pneumatic is impractical for forward field use by the individual operator, the CAT having velcro can fail with that and must be , usually, overtightened to have 100% arterial occlusion, and the SOFTT same overtightening problem, smaller width and small excursions per wrap of the windlass. We put the MAT to the test and it stops arterial flow to the click of the turnkey, only tightening enough to stop flow as per our doppler on the distal artery, no failures that were not the fault of the person 'abusing' it...we tortured it to make it fail. I certainly believe the data presented and can reproduce almost all of it except not having the problems with the MAT that they did. (no, I have no alignment or association with any company, we remain objective). Hence by endorsement of the MAT...it may never make it into the hands of all active duty personnel, but for civilian tactical medics and the like, I stand behind it. ss __________________ '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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