Modern day warfare lends itself perfectly to modern day medicine. Without the influence of wartime pressures to better previously accepted techniques, the procedures we take for granted today would not exist. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown themselves as a culmination of all the advances made in previous wars, as well as kept momentum flowing foward for new innovations to be made. Helicopters, blood tranfusions, and a plethora of other techniques have carried over into these wars as ways to save soldiers. However, with the great advances in medical technology made between the end of the Vietnam War and the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, a variety of new developments presented themselves through the dust and chaos of this Middle Eastern conflict which have continued to lower the number of cases resulting in death from both previous wars and even the start of the war. In 2002, 19.8% of soldiers in Iraq died from the injuries they received in combat. By 2010, that number had dropped to a fluctuation between 9.8 and 4.3%. Those numbers have come to be so low because of the outstanding medical advances made during these wars.
Tourniquets
Since World War II, it is estimated that nearly 50% of combat deaths were the result of uncontrollable blood loss. In the interest of saving mens' lives in the most simple and efficient fashion, the one-handed tourniquet was invented in 2002 by doctors stationed in Iraq. This device allowed for the injured individual to apply pressure to the wound by themselves, both freeing up their able-bodied commrades and allowing the men to essentially save themselves. 3 years later, the improved version of this one handed tourniquet, known as the Combat Application Tourniquet, was established as the primary tourniquet used by American soldiers in combat situations and is still used today.
Since World War II, it is estimated that nearly 50% of combat deaths were the result of uncontrollable blood loss. In the interest of saving mens' lives in the most simple and efficient fashion, the one-handed tourniquet was invented in 2002 by doctors stationed in Iraq. This device allowed for the injured individual to apply pressure to the wound by themselves, both freeing up their able-bodied commrades and allowing the men to essentially save themselves. 3 years later, the improved version of this one handed tourniquet, known as the Combat Application Tourniquet, was established as the primary tourniquet used by American soldiers in combat situations and is still used today.
Battlefield Dressings
Advancements in wound dressing have also become an essential tool in every Army first aid kit. The newly developed Fibrin bandage clots proteins in the blood by use of fibrinogen, a glycoprotein, and an enzyme built into the fabric of the bandage. With all three of these chemicals working together, the bandage is able to reduce blood loss 50-85% according to MEDCOM. The chitosan bandage is another newly developed method to prevent the loss of blood by adding to the fabric of the bandage a biodegradable carbohydrate found in the shells of shrimp and lobsters that, when in contact with blood cells, clots the blood and thus slows flow. Though both bandages work great for the slowing of blood flow from a wound, it is combat gauze that has earned itself the right to be a standard issue item in every first aid kit given to deploying soldiers. The combat gauze is made of simple kaolin which provides a swfit and natural coagulation response, resulting in less hemmorrhaging. However, arguably the most exciting and sci-fi esc. innovation in battlefield dressings brought about in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq is the ZStat. The ZStat is a pocket size syringe that, when injected into a bleeding wound, inserts 92 medical sponges that can halt bleeding within 15 seconds. All of these improvements to such simple a practice as battlefield dressings have saved countless American lives.
Advancements in wound dressing have also become an essential tool in every Army first aid kit. The newly developed Fibrin bandage clots proteins in the blood by use of fibrinogen, a glycoprotein, and an enzyme built into the fabric of the bandage. With all three of these chemicals working together, the bandage is able to reduce blood loss 50-85% according to MEDCOM. The chitosan bandage is another newly developed method to prevent the loss of blood by adding to the fabric of the bandage a biodegradable carbohydrate found in the shells of shrimp and lobsters that, when in contact with blood cells, clots the blood and thus slows flow. Though both bandages work great for the slowing of blood flow from a wound, it is combat gauze that has earned itself the right to be a standard issue item in every first aid kit given to deploying soldiers. The combat gauze is made of simple kaolin which provides a swfit and natural coagulation response, resulting in less hemmorrhaging. However, arguably the most exciting and sci-fi esc. innovation in battlefield dressings brought about in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq is the ZStat. The ZStat is a pocket size syringe that, when injected into a bleeding wound, inserts 92 medical sponges that can halt bleeding within 15 seconds. All of these improvements to such simple a practice as battlefield dressings have saved countless American lives.
Prosthetic Limbs
All modern days wars have been fought with some fraction of the soldiers in combat going home without an arm or a leg. Amputations, despite the advancements made in vascular repair, are even today sometimes the only option. The invention of robotic prosthetics, which are designed to move with your body just like the other limbs, and vaccum assisted suction sockets for easier hip articulation are two of the most notable improvements made to the field of prosthetics since the wars in the Midde East broke out. With so many soldiers coming home disabled, and the vast technlogy at the fingertips of Americans today, it was only a matter of time before limbs became more life-like than ever. Robotic limbs and the use of vacuum suction to keep them in place have allowed for a much smoother transition for amputees. The developments have allowed, to date, for more than 250 service men and women to return to active duty and for nearly 50 to be re-deployed.
All modern days wars have been fought with some fraction of the soldiers in combat going home without an arm or a leg. Amputations, despite the advancements made in vascular repair, are even today sometimes the only option. The invention of robotic prosthetics, which are designed to move with your body just like the other limbs, and vaccum assisted suction sockets for easier hip articulation are two of the most notable improvements made to the field of prosthetics since the wars in the Midde East broke out. With so many soldiers coming home disabled, and the vast technlogy at the fingertips of Americans today, it was only a matter of time before limbs became more life-like than ever. Robotic limbs and the use of vacuum suction to keep them in place have allowed for a much smoother transition for amputees. The developments have allowed, to date, for more than 250 service men and women to return to active duty and for nearly 50 to be re-deployed.
Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine
The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine was established in 2008 for soldiers and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars dealing with "debilitating, disabling, and disfiguring extremity injuries and burns". This institution specializes in research and perfecting techniques in the fields of burn repair, compartment syndrome repair, craniofacial reconstruction, salvaging severed limbs and fingers, and a variety of other areas all aimed toward making the life of the service man or woman easier post war.
The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine was established in 2008 for soldiers and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars dealing with "debilitating, disabling, and disfiguring extremity injuries and burns". This institution specializes in research and perfecting techniques in the fields of burn repair, compartment syndrome repair, craniofacial reconstruction, salvaging severed limbs and fingers, and a variety of other areas all aimed toward making the life of the service man or woman easier post war.
Vaccine Development
One of the many advantages to being in a wartime situation regarding medicine is that there is no time for error. There is not time to spend years on one single technique or drug. War pushed for things left undone to get done, and quickly. Though the HIV virus had been spreading in underdeveloped countries for a number of years before the wars in Iraq and Afghanstan erupted, little had been effectively done to help combat the illness. With the less than sanitary conditions being experienced in some parts of Iraq and Afghanistan, it was decided that something must be done to help the people living in these environments from succombing to the disease. In 2009, the Combination Vaccine was invented as the first injection that could prevent infection by the HIV virus with a nearly 30% efficacy. This vaccine, named one of the Top Inventions of 2009 in Time Magazine, was a revolutionary discovery that has paved the way for further HIV research and tratement.
Another vaccine invented during these wars was done so out of pure necessity. Adenovirus is an infection of the respiratory system that thrives in barrack-like environments, which was causing many American troops to come down with this disease. The adenovirus vaccine was invented in 2011 in order to stop the virus in its tracks and keep the soldiers serving overseas in these type of housing healthy.
One of the many advantages to being in a wartime situation regarding medicine is that there is no time for error. There is not time to spend years on one single technique or drug. War pushed for things left undone to get done, and quickly. Though the HIV virus had been spreading in underdeveloped countries for a number of years before the wars in Iraq and Afghanstan erupted, little had been effectively done to help combat the illness. With the less than sanitary conditions being experienced in some parts of Iraq and Afghanistan, it was decided that something must be done to help the people living in these environments from succombing to the disease. In 2009, the Combination Vaccine was invented as the first injection that could prevent infection by the HIV virus with a nearly 30% efficacy. This vaccine, named one of the Top Inventions of 2009 in Time Magazine, was a revolutionary discovery that has paved the way for further HIV research and tratement.
Another vaccine invented during these wars was done so out of pure necessity. Adenovirus is an infection of the respiratory system that thrives in barrack-like environments, which was causing many American troops to come down with this disease. The adenovirus vaccine was invented in 2011 in order to stop the virus in its tracks and keep the soldiers serving overseas in these type of housing healthy.
Arbekacin
All soldiers who have seen combat, past or present, know the seriousness of an infected injury. An infection in an open wound can literally mean life or death, especially in a wartime situation. In order to remedy this ongoing problem in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, to keep soldiers as safe and healthy as possible, Arbekacin was created. The Acinetobacter bacteria is commonly found in the water/soil regions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the aninetobacter bacteria is not usually harmful to humans unless their immune system is already compromised, and with the extreme weather conditions being endured and the high number of open wounds soldiers were receiving, it was quickly becoming a big problem. This is a prime example of an advance made purely from the push of wartime pressures. Though this bacteria was prevelant in Vietnam, the motivation to create a treatment to combat it was not felt until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
All soldiers who have seen combat, past or present, know the seriousness of an infected injury. An infection in an open wound can literally mean life or death, especially in a wartime situation. In order to remedy this ongoing problem in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, to keep soldiers as safe and healthy as possible, Arbekacin was created. The Acinetobacter bacteria is commonly found in the water/soil regions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the aninetobacter bacteria is not usually harmful to humans unless their immune system is already compromised, and with the extreme weather conditions being endured and the high number of open wounds soldiers were receiving, it was quickly becoming a big problem. This is a prime example of an advance made purely from the push of wartime pressures. Though this bacteria was prevelant in Vietnam, the motivation to create a treatment to combat it was not felt until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.