Does anyone still use MAST Trauma pants...

Comment

Comment by Vernon Tracy on March 8, 2009 at 5:29pm

We still carry them out here in Northern Az but don't use them. A few years ago we did use a pair. We flew the pt out and heard from the flight crew as soon as they got to the LEVEL ONE Trauma Center the ED Doc cut them off and the pt crashed... DUH. They ended up losing the pt anyway.

Comment by Gerry on March 3, 2009 at 6:13pm

I saved a women with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy using mast trousers alone. I was BLS at the time and no medic available. With mast trousers, shock position, high flow O2, she made it to the ER and surgery was immediately available. She lived, she certainly would have died without them. I say there is a place for them. That being said, I have not seen them used nor have I used them in years. Why I can't really say. We even used them in a transport capacity for hip fratures as a method of lessening vibration and as an air ride tool, they worked remarkably well in reducing pain and discomfort as an additional adjunct to pain meds. I liked them.

Comment by MedicResQ1 on February 2, 2009 at 9:00pm

Our unit uses them and we have protocols for them. However, the protocols haven't been updated since (no kidding) March 1997. We now have a new medical director and hopefully that is going to change.

That said, I do not recall having seen anyone use them in the last 10 years either.

Comment by D. Rogers on January 30, 2009 at 10:16pm

See the interesting thing with this is that the latest AHA research showed that they dont work. I know several paramedics that call BS. As you probably know they are meant to push the blood from the lower extremities up into the torso to lessen or stop the effects of shock. AHA says it dosent work that way, that the blood flow cannot be altered like that, yet they are still saying to elevate a wound if direct pressure doesnt work... Hypocritical much? I think their research is flawed, I have personally seen them work. More evidence of that is that if your trying to throw in a line and its not been sucessful, you will usually find one after the MAST is put on... but remember, they do not push the blood into the upper part of the body! Ugh...

Comment by Tom Gulch on January 29, 2009 at 3:41pm

every program I have been through and taught still teach them..we carry a set on each of our squads too...I think they have last been used back years ago when they used em for all codes and chest pains...

Comment by Jeffrey on January 28, 2009 at 8:34pm

I have found only very rural areas. I had 4 slightly used MAST Trauma pants donated and I could only give away two of them. However; paramedic programs still train them.