Innovation and Agility in Military Medicine
Challenges in Delivering Oxygen to the Battlefield
For decades, military doctors have faced a critical challenge: what’s the best way to safely and effectively deliver oxygen to patients in remote combat zones, rural hospitals, or disaster-stricken areas? Oxygen tanks are heavy, costly, and dangerous in combat zones. A direct hit from a missile or a bullet can turn a lifesaving resource into a deadly hazard.
Innovation and Agility
In the civilian world, it takes 17 years on average for a research discovery to change medical practice. One of the most well-known examples of this is the use of tranexamic acid for trauma patients. Tranexamic acid is injected to stop bleeding during surgery or after trauma. It was discovered in 1962 but not approved by the FDA until 1986. It wasn’t used for traumatic bleeding until 2012.
The changing nature of war and threats against U.S. forces require military medicine to move faster. Injuries and infections in combat push researchers to find better ways to save lives, often faster than in civilian health care.
Rethinking Oxygen
The immediate administration of oxygen to an injured or ill patient has long been a cornerstone of trauma and burn care. The logic seemed simple: when patients are in shock or have severe injuries, their bodies struggle to get enough oxygen, so doctors provided extra. Our research, and that of others, found that too much oxygen can actually be harmful. Excess oxygen triggers oxidative stress – an overload of unstable molecules called free radicals that can damage healthy cells. That can lead to more inflammation, slower healing, and even organ failure.
In short, while oxygen is essential, more isn’t always better.
Strategy to Avoid Excessive Oxygen (SAVE-O2)
We conducted a series of military-civilian collaborative trials called SAVE-O2. We discovered that severely injured patients often require less oxygen than previously believed. In fact, little or no supplemental oxygen is needed to safely care for 95% of these patients. This finding challenges decades of conventional medical wisdom. It will reshape how medical professionals approach critical care in not only military settings, but civilian hospitals as well.
Artificial Intelligence for Oxygen Delivery
To build on our findings, we’ve launched a trial to study the use of artificial intelligence to automate oxygen delivery. This military-funded study could provide better care for wounded soldiers in remote combat zones and for injured civilians in ambulances or rural hospitals before they reach large referral and trauma centers.
Prolonged Casualty Care: A New Frontier
While researching oxygen needs in combat zones, we realized another pressing issue: the challenges of prolonged casualty care. During a conflict, military medics often need to treat critically injured soldiers for hours or even days before the wounded person can be evacuated.
Conclusion
Innovation in health care thrives on collaboration. Military-civilian partnerships are one way to advance medical solutions faster and more effectively. These innovations save lives in combat, improve care, and allow us to apply our 98% survival rate in war to our trauma centers, rural hospitals, and disaster zones in the U.S.
FAQs
Q: Why is it important to rethink oxygen delivery in combat zones?
A: Excess oxygen can actually be harmful, and military medics need to prioritize more targeted and efficient oxygen delivery.
Q: What are the challenges of prolonged casualty care?
A: Military medics often need to treat critically injured soldiers for hours or even days before the wounded person can be evacuated, which can be challenging, especially in remote or disaster-stricken areas.
Q: How can military-civilian partnerships advance medical solutions faster and more effectively?
A: By working together, military and civilian researchers can leverage each other’s expertise and resources to develop innovative solutions that can save lives in combat and improve care in the U.S.
