The Potential Use of the Abdominal Aortic Junctional Tourniquet® in a Military Population: A Review of Requirement, Effectiveness, and Usability

• Published in: Journal of special operations medicine Vol. 19; no. 4; p. 74
• Main Authors: Handford, Charles, Parker, Paul J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2019
• Subjects: Hemorrhage - therapy; Humans; Military Personnel; Tourniquets; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1553-9768
• DOI: 10.55460/39zk-fazz

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable prehospital death on the battlefield; 20% is junctional. This is a challenge to manage in the forward and prehospital military environment. With the widespread use of body armor, peripheral tourniquets and continued asymmetric warfare this consistent figure is unlikely to reduce. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is an often-quoted potential solution; however, this invasive strategy requires a high skill level alongside a significant failure and complication rate. The Abdominal Aortic Junctional Tourniquet® (AAJT) is a noninvasive potential adjunct for the management of hemorrhage below the level of the aortic bifurcation with published case reports of successful use in prehospital blast and gunshot wounds. When placed at the level of the aortic bifurcation, alongside a pelvic binder, it can be used to control pelvic hemorrhage, buying time until definitive management. Importantly it has a low training burden and is easy to use. The AAJT has potential use as a prehospital device in the exsanguinating patient, those in traumatic cardiac arrest, as a bridging device, and as fluid conserving device in resource-limited environments. The evidence surrounding the AAJT is reviewed, and potential uses in the military setting are suggested.