The immediate lifesaving management of maxillofacial, life-threatening haemorrhages due to IED and/or shrapnel injuries: "when hazard is in hesitation, not in the action"

Abstract

Maxillofacial/neck vascular injuries caused by improvised explosive devices IEDs or ballistics injuries are life threatening when they cause severe haemorrhage resulting in airway compromise. One should always keep in mind that the best technique used is that which saves the patient's life and not the most expensive and/or technologically advanced. Medical professionals on the scene should have the necessary experience to handle the emergency situations of airway compromise and haemorrhage control. In this instance there is only, "one to a few minutes" to clear airway obstruction and arrest haemorrhage to prevent death. The patients in this study had life-threatening shrapnel injuries of the carotid and/or jugular vessels, and facial primary blast affect implosion of facial middle third air-containing cavities injuries. In a massive casualties arenas, where time=lifesaving, we should need to replace "non-battlefield" civilian techniques with "time driven", combat management for IEDs injuries. In these cases, the immediate and effective compression tamponade using digital, Foley catheter tamponade, packs and/or vessels ligation for severe facial/neck haemorrhage were used successfully.