Page 10 - JSOM Spring 2025

FEATURE ARTICLES The researchers found that a single-unit whole blood donation
The Use of Different Types of Supraglottic Airway Devices does not impact donor physical performance in acclimatized par-
by Medics on a Manikin with Night Vision Goggles: A Pilot ticipants during combat-load carries at elevations up to 3,050m,
Study: In this study, Jänig and colleagues evaluated the use of dif- except with respect to oxygen saturation.
ferent supraglottic airway devices (SADs) using night vision gog-
gles (NVG) on a manikin. Fifty-three medically trained soldiers
were given a brief demonstration of how to place three different
types of SAD in a manikin’s airway. The authors found that NVG
have a measurable impact on the speed of placement but do not
prolong placement to a clinically significant extent in this setting.
In addition, there was no significant difference in placement suc- A participant donates
cess for each SAD in ambient light or with NVG. Furthermore, all blood in the field
participants were able to read the size information on the various immediately prior to
SADs when wearing NVG and were thus able to make a proper performing a ruck
size selection. march.
Comparison of Novel Chest Seal Designs to Commercially
Available Chest Seals at Relevant Physiological Pressures: Photos courtesy of NHRC.
Using a closed-cell foam model, Wells and Aho tested the ability of
commercial and novel chest seal designs to drain fluid from a sim-
ulated chest wound. The researchers determined that novel chest
seals with the highest flow rates were comparable to commercial
chest seals with the highest flow rates at all pressures, and, overall,
laminar vented chest seals with wider channel widths and more An Update on Best Practices for the Prehospital Manage-
channels had higher flow rates and lower percentages of channel ment of Exertional Heat Illness: Norton and colleagues in-
saturation. troduce best practices from the recently published Joint Clinical
Practice Guideline for the prevention, diagnosis, and management
of exertional heat illness from the Consortium for Health and Mil-
itary Performance Warrior Heat and Exertion Related Event Col-
laborative. Areas covered in this update include early recognition
and universal training, differential diagnosis, core temperature
assessment, pre-mission planning, rapid treatment, and cooling
methods. The authors include a field algorithm for suspected heat
illness.
Beyond Command: Exploring the Dynamics of the Military
Medical Officer and Non-Commissioned Officer Relationship
in Military Medicine: Using a qualitative existential-phenomeno-
logical design, Crawford and colleagues interviewed eight medical
non-commissioned officers (NCOs) twice (focus group and indi-
Novel chest seal design nomenclature. Each novel chest seal has main vidual interviews) to learn how military medical officers (MMOs)
channels which extend from the wound site to chest seal perimeter. and NCOs can foster positive working relationships. Open com-
Side channels extend from main channel to chest seal perimeter. munication, trust in training, and mutual mentorship emerged as
Chest seals can have single side channel (A) or multiple side channels essential enablers of strong working relationships. The authors
per main channel (B). conclude that strengthening these skills early on during medical
school can enhance these attributes and ultimately improve med-
Effect of Fresh Whole Blood Donation on Human Perfor- ical force readiness.
mance in United States Special Forces: Houser and colleagues
sought to examine the effects of blood donation on simulated bat- IN BRIEF
tlefield tasks in U.S. Special Forces Soldiers. Seventeen Soldiers Man, Hibernating Animals, and Poikilothermic Fish: The Pres-
served as their own controls and underwent a blinded blood draw ent and Future of BCI Technology: Anna M. Gielas provides an
and a sham draw, which were ordered randomly and separated overview of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), such as the experi-
by 6 days. Clinical and performance data were recorded before mental technologies popularized by Neuralink. This report focuses
and after a 1,200-m shuttle run, 3-event stress shoot, and 5-mile on 1) how BCIs work, 2) their potential significance for injured
run, all while wearing a typical combat load. The authors found Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel, 3) current challenges
moderate-to-large performance decrements that were somewhat in this feild, and 4) BCI’s potential to enhance SOF in the future.
greater than those of previous studies. This discrepancy might be
due to the more demanding tasks used for this investigation. CASE REPORTS
Effects of Whole Blood Donation on Physiological Responses Enhancing Tactical Paramedicine Response Efficiency and Ef-
and Physical Performance at Altitude: This study by Jones fectiveness: Lessons from the Bataclan Concert Hall Incident:
and colleagues evaluated the effects of blood donation on high- This case report from Steven Robertson describes how the 2015
altitude combat-load carry performance in 13 acclimatized mil- Bataclan Concert Hall attack in Paris highlights the role of the
itary personnel. Participants completed two 3.2-km rucksack tactical emergency medical physicians embedded within France’s
carries at 2,800–3,050m, one without blood donation and one Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence (RAID) Police Tac-
following donation. Performance and clinical outcome measures, tical Group. The author contrasts the French response to Austra-
as well as symptoms of acute mountain sickness were evaluated. lia’s paramedic response to intentional mass violence incidents and

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