Citation

Kragh JF, Swan KG, Smith DC, Mabry RL, Blackbourne LH. Am. J. Surg. 2012; 203(2): 242-252.

Affiliation

Orthopedics, Damage Control Resuscitation, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, MCMR-SRR-R, 3650 Chambers Pass, Building 3610, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2011.01.028

PMID

21782152

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although a common first aid topic, emergency tourniquets to stop bleeding are controversial because there is little experience on which to guide use. Absent an adequate historical analysis, we have researched development of emergency tourniquets from antiquity to the present. METHODS: We selected sources emphasizing historical development of tourniquets from books and databases such as PubMed. RESULTS: The history of the emergency tourniquet is long and disjointed, mainly written by hospital surgeons with little accounting, until recently, of the needs of forward medics near the point injury. Many investigators often are unaware of the breadth of the tourniquet's history and voice opinions based on anecdotal observations. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting the historical development of tourniquet use allowed us to recognize disparate problems investigators discuss but do not recognize, such as venous tourniquet use. We relate past observations with recent observations for use by subsequent investigators.

Language: en