Adopting a culture of remote damage control resuscitation in the military: Insights from the Israel defense forces decade of experience.
Transfusion · 2023-04-12 · Implementation & quality improvement
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Remote damage control resuscitation (RDCR) aims to apply the principles of damage control resuscitation to prehospital and austere care, emphasizing early control of compressible hemorrhage, balanced volume resuscitation, and the prevention or correction of coagulopathy, acidosis, hypothermia, and hypocalcemia. Over the past decades, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) has made significant efforts to integrate the principles of RDCR into prehospital trauma care in the military. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this article, we reflect on the implementation of RDCR in the prehospital setting by the IDF-MC, sharing successes, challenges, considerations on guideline changes, and their assessment over time. RESULTS: The implementation of RDCR has resulted in changes in clinical practice guidelines and training programs, with increased awareness and adoption of RDCR principles among both medical and non-medical military personnel. The implementation of these principles and adherence to guideline changes have been analyzed using the Israel Defense Forces Trauma Registry. DISCUSSION: By sharing our experiences, we hope to provide valuable insights for other military and civilian organizations seeking to adopt similar protocols for prehospital care. Continuous evaluation and refinement of guidelines and training programs will be essential for ongoing implementation and advancement of RDCR in the prehospital setting.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Blood products · Fluids & blood · Haemostatic dressings & wound packing · Implementation · Military & tactical
Related articles
- Remote Damage Control Resuscitation in Austere Environments. (Wilderness Environ Med, 2017)
- Augmentation of point of injury care: Reducing battlefield mortality-The IDF experience. (Injury, 2016)
- Saving Lives on the Battlefield (Part II) ? One Year Later A Joint Theater Trauma System and Joint Trauma System Review of Prehospital Trauma Care in Combined Joint Operations Area?Afghanistan (CJOA-A) Final Report, 30 May 2014. (J Spec Oper Med, 2015)
- Blood far forward: A cross-sectional analysis of prehospital transfusion practices in the Canadian Armed Forces. (Injury, 2025)
- Extrapolation of battlefield resuscitative care to the civilian setting. (J Surg Orthop Adv, 2010)
- Emergency whole-blood use in the field: a simplified protocol for collection and transfusion. (Shock, 2014)