The “Slash Pack” as a Temporary Method for Initial Hemorrhage Control of Penetrating Neck Trauma in the Emergency Department: A Report of Two Cases

TL;DR

A new method called the 'slash pack' is used to control severe neck bleeding in community hospitals before transferring patients to specialized centers.

Contribution

The 'slash pack' is introduced as a novel, temporary hemorrhage control technique for penetrating neck trauma in resource-limited settings.

Findings

The slash pack technique successfully stabilized two patients with life-threatening neck injuries.

Both patients were transferred to a level 1 trauma center and made full recoveries.

The method shows promise for use in community hospitals lacking immediate surgical resources.

Abstract

Penetrating trauma to the neck poses a critical challenge in the emergency department. These wounds have the potential to lead to rapid blood loss, hemorrhagic shock, and an increase in mortality. Large academic tertiary centers typically have vast resources and consultants to allow for rapid assessment and treatment of penetrating neck trauma. In community emergency departments, this is not typically the case, as surgical backup is usually not readily available and lacks the additional subspecialty coverage to aid in the management of the trauma patient. This situation often necessitates innovative methods of achieving hemostasis in certain life-threatening situations. This report explores a novel approach, termed the “slash pack,” as a potential solution for managing such traumatic injuries. The report discusses two cases in which penetrating neck trauma was successfully managed with the slash pack technique in a community hospital for stabilization prior to the transfer of the patients to the regional tertiary trauma center. Both patients were stabilized and transferred to a level 1 trauma center for definitive care with complete resolution and no further sequelae from injury.

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