Resuscitation from Traumatic Cardiac Arrest in the Military

The rate of successful resuscitation for patients with traumatic cardiac arrest has previously been reported to be dismal (approximately 3%). The approach to traumatic arrest has been to rapidly identify immediately reversible causes of arrest, such as tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, and airway compromise, and then cease resuscitative efforts if interventions are not successful.

However, the large number of cases of traumatic cardiac arrest in the military in recent years has led to changes in the military's management strategy for traumatic cardiac arrest, with some reports of improved outcomes. The military's current approach involves management by a multidisciplinary team and includes use of protocols; hemorrhage control; securin…