Prolonged Field Care Podcast PFC Podcast 260: Evolving Guidelines for LSCO
Jan 5, 2026
Jessica Patterson, an emergency medicine physician with trauma experience and humanitarian work in Ukraine, and Florian Schmitzberger, a military medic turned program director, delve into the evolving clinical practice guidelines in dynamic conflict settings. They emphasize the need for data to assess guideline performance amidst changing environments. The duo shares insights on prolonged tourniquet issues, blood supply constraints, and the influence of rigid protocols on medical decision-making. Their conversation advocates for adaptive training and policy adjustments to enhance frontline care.
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GWOT-Era Guidelines May Not Generalize
- DOD clinical practice guidelines were honed during GWOT but may not transfer directly to new conflicts.
- Jessica Patterson warns that differing ground truths require data to test guideline performance.
Use Trusted Partners For Surveys
- Validate survey respondents by using trusted operational partners to ensure high-quality data.
- Florian Schmitzberger recommends in-person or partner-assisted surveys with free-text fields to capture real-world practice.
Prolonged Evacuation Drove Complications
- Prolonged tourniquet times and resulting complications sparked the research.
- Jessica Patterson notes case series showed amputations and renal failure from prolonged evacuation times.