The Civil War has long been recognized as the springboard for modern-day doctors learning how to treat trauma patients. Today’s battlefields are no different and Part II of Battlefield Breakthroughs on the weekend edition of CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, MD shows new concepts in trauma medicine, sadly brought to light via real-life combat.
Military physicians, civilian doctors, medics and even the Soldiers themselves have learned untold lessons from the current wars.
The most recent case-in-point is that of Medal of Honor recipient Army SFC Leroy Petry who saved his own life by applying a trauma tourniquet (that he kept in his pocket) to his right hand that was amputated by a live grenade as he tried to throw it away from his fellow soldiers.
In 2008, 92 percent of troops wounded in combat survived their injuries due to advances in battlefield medicine.
This special highlights shock-trauma surgeons as they prepare for war.
Check local listings for Part II of Sanjay Gupta, MD’s special with CNN’s Pentagon and war correspondent Barbara Starr. (7:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time)
Examiner’s Note: Celox granules that resemble kitty-litter and stop bleeding are a ‘must carry’ item for Soldiers and Marines. Since 2004, every Marine headed into battle carries it his pocket or rucksack.
Combat Gauze and WoundStat are two products that have been developed to aid survivability after a traumatic battlefield injury. These are items that never would have been available to Soldiers in previous conflicts. Breakthrough procedures and products are being developed constantly to help save our warfighters.
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