Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T10:37:23.575Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Needle Thoracostomy by Non-Medical Law Enforcement Personnel: Preliminary Data on Knowledge Retention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Matthew D. Sztajnkrycer
Matthew D. Sztajnkrycer*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
*
Associate Professor of Emergency MedicineMayo Clinic GE-GR-G410200 1st Street SWRochester, Minnesota 55905USA E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

Tension pneumothorax is the second leading cause of preventable combat death. Although relatively simple, the management of tension pneumothorax is considered an advanced life support skill set. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of non-medical law enforcement personnel to learn this skill set and to determine long-term knowledge and skill retention.

Methods:

After completing a pre-intervention questionnaire, a total of 22 tactical team operators completed a 90-minute-long training session in recognition and management of tension pneumothorax. Post-intervention testing was performed immediately post-training, and at one- and six-months post-training.

Results:

Initial training resulted in a significant increase in knowledge (pre: 1.3 ±1.35, max score 7; post: 6.8 ±0.62, p < 0.0001). Knowledge retention persisted at one- and six-months post-training, without significant decrement.

Conclusions:

Non-medical law enforcement personnel are capable of learning needle decompression, and retain this knowledge without significant deterioration for at least six months.

Keywords

needle decompressionpolicetacticaltension pneumothorax
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 6 , December 2008 , pp. 553 - 557
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.McPherson, JJ, Feigin, DS, Bellamy, RF: Prevalence of tension pneumothorax in fatally wounded combat casualties. J Trauma 2006;60:573–578.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Coats, TJ, Wilson, AW, Xeropotamous, N: Prehospital management of patients with severe thoracic injury. Injury 1995;2;581–585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Lee, C., Revell, M, Porter, K, Steyn, R: The prehospital management of chest injuries: A consensus statement. Faculty of Prehospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons of Ediburgh. Emerg Med J 2007;24:220–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Leigh-Smith, S: Tension pneumothorax prevalence grossly exaggerated. Emerg Med J 2007;24:865.Google ScholarPubMed
5.Leigh-Smith, S, Harris, T: Tension peumothorax—Time for a re-think? Emerg Med J 2005;22;8–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Bellamy, RF: The causes of death in conventional land warfare: Implications for combat casualty care research. Mil Med 1984;149:55–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Champion, HR, Bellamy, RF, Roberts, P, Leppaniemi, A: A profile of combat injury. J Trauma 2003;54:s13–s19.Google ScholarPubMed
8.Butler, FK Jr, Hagman, J, Butler, EG: Tactical combat casualty care in special operations. Mil Med 1996;161(Suppl 1):3–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care: Military Medicine. In: NE, McSwain, Frame, S, Salomone, JP (eds): Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Military Edition, Revised 5th Ed. St Louis: Mosby, 2005, pp 374–408.Google Scholar
10. Anonymous: Combat Lifesaver Program. Department of Combat Medic Training. Available at http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/clsp/index.htm. Accessed 08 February 2008.Google Scholar
11.Jones, JS, Reese, K, Kenepp, G, Krohmer, J: Into the fray: Integration of emergency medical services and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Teams. Prehospital Disast Med 1996;11:202–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Sztajnkrycer, MD, Callaway, DW, Baez, AA: Police officer response to the injured officer: A survey-based analysis of medical care decisions. Prehospital Disast Med 2007;22: 35–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Tilghman, A: Iraqi Police Study the Basics of Medical Aid. Stars and Stripes, 10 April 2006.Google Scholar
14.Spanjersberg, W, Ringburg, A, Krijen, P, et al. : Prehospital chest tube thoracostomy: Effective treatment or additional trauma? J Trauma 2005;59:96–101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Massarutti, D, Trillo, G, Berlot, G, et al. : Simple thoracostomy in prehospital trauma management is safe and effective: A 2-year experience by helicopter emergency medical crews. Eur J Emerg Med 2006;13:276–280.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Davis, DP, Pettit, K, Rom, CD, et al. : The safety and efficacy of prehospital needle and tube thoracostomy by aeromedical personnel. Prehospital Emerg Care 2005;9:191–197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Barton, ED, Epperson, M, Hoyt, DB, et al. : Prehospital needle aspiration and tube thorcostomy in trauma victims: A six-year experience with aeromedical crews. J Emerg Med 1995;13:155–163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Federal Protective Service, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Protocol Manual. Prehospital Treatment Protocols for Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. Version 3.0. Effective 01 November 2006.Google Scholar