Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

In this paper I wanted to investigate the characteristics of devices currently available for the management of massive bleeding and the nursing skills in the out-of-hospital environment. I have also taken into consideration the path of a multi-trauma patient in hospital. I chose this topic following a very positive experience as a trainee in the 118 operational unit in Modena and also having taken the Stop The Bleed® training course. Haemorrhage is the first preventable cause of death in polytrauma and in case of an external haemorrhage, treatment must start in the pre-hospital phase if we are to achieve a positive impact on the prognosis. In other words, it is a time-dependent event. The adoption of devices that are quickly applied, highly effective and without significant adverse effects, such as the tourniquet, is the win-win strategy to reduce so-called "avoidable deaths". The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the functionality of new and old generation haemostatic devices, which can reverse the outcome of an operation on a polytrauma bleeding patient, resulting in death or recovery. To do this, I systematically reviewed literature concerning the use of haemostatic devices in the area of territorial emergency aid. It was not possible to collect numerical data due to lack of documentation in the civil field found in the databases. Conclusions drawn indicate that rapid control of a haemorrhage by the first responder, using an easily applied device, of proven efficiency following years of use in military camps, is comparable to the effectiveness of an early defibrillation by a by-stander, implemented for years with clear improvements in the outcome of a cardiac arrest.