#Vietnam war hospital conditions skin#

Also, excessive loss of body fluids is a major problem with wide spread loss of the protective skin cover. The use of antiseptic and antibiotic impregnated dressings helped reduce dangerous infections. The military has been a leader in developing frozen blood products that have been lifesaving in many instances.Īdvances in burn care also occurred during the Vietnam War. Obtaining and storing massive amounts of fresh blood in war time conditions is impossible. In catastrophic injuries that occur in war, it is not uncommon to transfuse 10, 20, or even more pints of blood and have the patient survive.

The normal blood volume in a young adult is approximately 8-10 pints. Frozen blood can be used for up to a year.

Fresh blood can only be used for 21-30 days before deteriorating. Among them was the use of frozen blood products. The Vietnam War produced a number of important advances in medical practice. The Korean War led to even greater savings of lives by the use of helicopters for battlefield evacuations and much quicker removal to more capable medical facilities, such as MASH hospitals, well known to all of us. The widespread use of metal plates and joints is now common, as we all know. To the surprise of the medical staff, the German troops were back on duty in half the time compared to normal healing. This technic was developed by the German military medical services and discovered by the Allies when examining captured German prisoners who had needed x-rays. Prior to antibiotics, infectious disease was the leading cause of death worldwide.Īnother significant advance during WWII was the use of metal plates to help heal fractures. Sulfa drugs, discovered in 1935, and penicillin, developed in 1939, have led the way to the obvious world-wide benefit we have today from any number of effective antibiotics. World War II saw the expanded use of antibiotics as a very significant advance. There were many side effects related to these treatments, but in today’s world, specificity for the malignant cells is increasing marvelously. It took some time, but eventually molecules were produced that could kill cancer cells more than normal cells to the benefit of patients with cancer. The use of poison gases demonstrated that synthetic molecules killed normal cells. The volunteers were primarily conscientious objectors (American Quakers) who provided these dangerous services rather than use weapons.Ī little known outcome from WWI was the development of chemotherapy for cancer treatment. The less time spent after wounding and transport to receiving medical care significantly improved survival rates.

#Vietnam war hospital conditions drivers#

Battlefield aid stations were set up very close to the battle areas saving many lives.Īnother important advance during WWI was the use of volunteer ambulance drivers who went out into the battlefield during the fighting to pick up the wounded. World War I brought about the regular use of blood transfusions that up to then were quite rare. The use of anesthesia enabled significant advances in surgical capabilities that continue to the modern day.

Prior to anesthesia, the key hallmark of surgical excellence was how quickly the procedure could be completed. Despite the rather gruesome scenes of piles of bloody limbs often shown on television, the patients who underwent the procedures did it with complete insensibility of the previous ghastly pain of all surgeries. Some of these advances were completely innovative because of circumstances that occur primarily during wartime-e.g., severe multiple wounds-and some have expanded recent new discoveries that had not yet become common in civilian practice.įor example, the American Civil War brought about the significant use of anesthesia which had only been discovered in 1846. Besides the well-known technical advances that have occurred during major wars of the past 150 years, each one also has produced significant advances in medicine.