Laboratory Evaluation of Battlefield Tourniquets in Human Volunteers

Abstract : Objective: To screen currently available commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tourniquets for effectiveness in human volunteers. Methods: Seven potential battlefield tourniquets were tested for efficacy (elimination of distal Doppler pulse) in the leg (Experiment I; n=18). Those found to be effective in = 80% of subjects in Experiment I were tested on the arm (Experiment II; n=12). Results: Experiment I: Three of the seven tourniquets tested on the thigh were effective in 100% of the subjects tested; a fourth was effective 100% of the time when applied to the arm. Reasons for failure in either test included the inability to occlude arterial flow due to: mechanical limitations (design or construction), circumferential pain, and skin pinching. Conclusion: The Emergency Military Tourniquet(Trademark) (Delfi Medical Innovations, Inc.); the Combat Application Tourniquet (Phil Durango LLC); and the Special Operations Force Tactical Tourniquet (Tactical Medical Solutions LLC) were all found to be 100% effective on both the arm and leg in the laboratory environment. Suitability for battlefield use remains to be determined based 011 field testing.

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