Removing patient clothing

CJEM Visual Abstract: Removing patient clothing in trauma

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This month we have created a visual abstract featuring our featured CJEM article is: “Cut and rip and cut alone techniques versus usual practice in the removal of trauma patient clothing”1

In trauma patients, rapid and adequate exposure is necessary for delivering timely and appropriate care.2 This can be achieved in multiple ways but there are currently no gold standards. Sibley et al. aimed to compare two specific techniques of clothing removal versus usual practice in the management of a simulated trauma patient.1 Their participants included advanced care paramedic (ACP) students, as well as practicing primary care paramedics (PCP) and ACPs. Their primary outcome was the total time it took to expose the anterior portion of the simulated patient, log roll and expose the back, and place the patient flat on the stretcher again.

The results and specific clothing removal techniques examined are highlighted in our visual abstract. The ACP students took an average of 32 seconds less to completely expose the simulated patient with the Cut and Rip technique when compared to the Cut alone technique. Of note there were no differences when these techniques were compared to usual practice in practicing paramedics. The authors conclude the cut and rip technique as a faster method of exposing the patient and could save time when assessing a critically ill trauma patient.

A PDF version of the visual abstract is available here. This post is the last in the CJEM infographic and visual abstract series. We have enjoyed working with CJEM and look forward to seeing their new social media strategy in action!

References

1.
Sibley AK, Jain TN, Nicholson B, Atkinson P. Cut and rip and cut alone techniques versus usual practice in the removal of trauma patient clothing. C. 2017;20(04):600-605. doi:10.1017/cem.2017.346
2.
Campbell JE, Alson RL. International Trauma Life Support for Emergency Care Providers,. 8th ed. Pearson; 2015.
Alvin Chin

Alvin Chin

Alvin is currently a PGY5 in the FRCP EM program at McMaster University. He serves as Director of Design for CanadiEM and has interests in knowledge translation and health innovation.