13 Annual tourniquet use in UK ambulance services for major haemorrhage control

Conclusion There is a significant lack of data regarding UK ambulance service tourniquet use and this should be urgently increased to improve both research and clinical governance. Many (45%) patients are already in significant levels of shock prior to application of tourniquet use which is associated with very high levels of mortality2 and only further data collection will help to understand and ultimately address the reasons underlying this. References Bulger EM, Snyder D, & Schoelles K, et al. An evidence-based prehospital guideline for external haemorrhage control: American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2014;18(2):163–173. Kragh JF, Littrel ML, & Jones JA, et al. Battle casualty survival with emergency tourniquet use to stop limb bleeding. J Emerg Med. 2011;41(6):590–597. Conflict of interest None declared. Funding None declared.
Source: BMJ Open - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research