From Battlefield to ICU - Continuity in Respiratory Care

Besides exsanguination and pneumothorax, one of the main causes of preventable death on the battlefield is airway obstruction. In this context the chances of survival are tightly linked to the quality of combat casualty care. Securing the airway, particularly patient ventilation, offers room for improvement. Special transport respirators may help to simplify acute as well as long-term respiratory care.