PRINCIPLES OF PROLONGED CARE Flashcards
What is beyond TCCC and exceeds doctrinal planning guidelines, “begins when evac doesn’t”?
Prolonged Field Care (PFC)
What are some reasons for PFC?
- Long evac times
- Indigenous capabilities
- Require different skills
- Different environments
What is RTHP as it involves operation planning and logistics?
- Ruck - gear carried to furthest point usually by medical personnel
- Truck - additional gear carried in vehicles
- House - gear available to IDC/Medical personnel however, can only be maintained at house/tent/FOB or support site “highest level of unit care”
4 Plane - planning stage to consider how casualties will be moved:
a. MEDEVAC (dedicated and equipped)
b. CASEVAC (pre-planed non-medical support)
What are the three phases of PFC?
- Evaluation phase
- Resuscitation phase
- Transport phase
What phase of prolonged field care includes the following?
- Systemic approach priority to treat life threats in order or severity
a. Resuscitation and lifesaving procedures
b. Treat shock
c. Completion or MARCH and
d. Upgrading stopgaps (intubating, cricothyrotomy, chest tubes, etc.)
e. Initiate evacuation plan
Evaluation phase
What phase of prolonged field care includes the following?
- During this time procedures and steps taken to normalize vitals and reverse physiological effects based on skill set available
- Shock
- Lethal triad addressed
- Re-evaluate for life, limb, eyesight conditions and re-evaluate resuscitation efforts
- Nursing care
- Telemedicine
Resuscitation phase
What phase of prolonged field care includes the following?
- Prevent hypothermia
- Secure patient and liter
- Splinting
- Monitor and cuffs
- Emergency meds
- Sedation pain
- Secure tubing
- Documentation of patient condition, response to therapy and treatment rendered
Transport phase
These are all core capabilities of what?
- Monitor - in order to obtain a trend in vital signs
- Resuscitate beyond basic crystalloid
- Ventilate and oxygenate the patient
- Airway management - if patient requires a definitive airway (inflated cuffed tube below the trachea) gain control of the airway and be able to maintain sedation
- Sedation and pain management - In order to provide appropriate long term airway management adequate knowledge and skills to provide sedation and analgesia are required
Core Capabilities of PFC
These are all core capabilities of what?
- Ability to use physical exam and advanced diagnostics to further evaluate
- Nursing care - incorporate hygiene, nursing care, and comfort measures
- Advanced surgical interventions
- Telemedicine consult
- Prepare patient for flight. Imperative to have higher training prior to deployment or mission (joint in-route care course, OJT with ERC nurse)
Core capabilities of PFC
There are no documented cases of permanent tissue damage, nerve damage or vascular injury from properly applied TQ in places for less than __ hours
2 hours
Should tourniquet conversions be attempted if it has been in place for longer than 6 hours?
No, unless it occurs at a definitive care facility
True or False
Tourniquet Conversions
With “Plus 1” (additional not tightened TQ) in place, loosen the first TQ; if no bleeding from the wound is noted, then leave both TQs in place but not tightened and dress the wound
True
Tourniquet Conversions
If bleeding is noted, apply hemostatic agent and hold pressure for ___ to __ minutes. If not further bleeding is noted, leave the loose TQs in place and dress the wound
3 to 5 minutes
True or False
If hemostatic agents fail to control the bleeding, tighten the original TQ in as distal a position as possible to control the bleeding. Leave the “Plus 1” TQ loose and proximal to the tightened TQ
True
Tourniquet Conversions
Should you attempt conversion if TQ is < 2 hours?
yes
Tourniquet Conversions
Should you attempt conversion at 2-6 hours?
Likely safe, attempt conversion