MAT Turn-E-Ket

[NousDefionsDoc]

http://www.matourniquet.com/

[Cincinnatus]

Sneaky,

This is really supposed to be an outstanding piece of gear. Gomez has been playing around w/ the various TQs for over a year now (he had one sent to me [IIRC it was called the SOFT-T or something similar] when I was @ SOLO last Aug.) The MAT TQ is his favorite of what he's evaluated and he told me Thur night that he was sending me a copy of a report from a test that rated it the best of several tested. I'll send you a copy of the eval when I get it.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Yeah, I'm hearing good things as well. If Big Man is GTG with it, just post the eval for all to see.

[swatsurgeon]

We're looking at it also for the civilian side with traumatic amputations and bleed outs from other wounds.
So far, it has ease of use, nearly foolproof (until they build a better fool!!)
our medics and SWAT guys can apply it quickly with 1 or 2 people or self applied. I like the fact that it is built wider than others on the market. I'm also looking at the S.A.T.S. which has a different 'buckle' mechanism and locking clamp. Going to give both a good workout and then be able to recommend to our local/regional tac-med operators as well as local/regional and possibly state EMS.
the web sites do a good job of demonstrating and after applying both to my arms and legs I get less 'pain/pinch' with the MAT

ss

[Maya]

It looks like this same company has a pelvic stabilizing product, TPOD, that would be a great addition to the bag-o-tricks. It's pricey though, $98.00 for a one time use product. Has anyone used this product?

Thanks,

Maya

[swatsurgeon]

I've tried it in the trauma room and once in the field....take my advice, sheets are free and work just as well if someone teaches you the proper technique for applying them to stabilize pelvic fx's.

ss

[52bravo]

SS
like to here proper way.

[swatsurgeon]

sheet technique to providing pelvic 'stability' for suspected open book fractures:
- best performed by 2 people but can be done with one
-place a folded bed sheet under patient that is ~12 wide with upper border as high as/along 'hip bone'
-cross sheet over patient, each person pulling slow and steady, putting pressure across front of pelvis....slowly!!.
-once max tension across pelvis, maintain the 'pull'; each person handing off their side as to wrap/twist the sheet to maintain the tension
- once it is wrapped/twisted enough (4-6x), tape or tuck ends under the 'knot' to prevent unwrapping
- leave on as long as necessary or until doc removes it in trauma room or E.D.
- to harm done if there was no fracture: unlike MAST trousers, no need to intubate with maximum inflation/tension

I'll look for a link that shows a vid clip of this.

ss

[52bravo]

some say also to tape feet together what is you word on that

[swatsurgeon]

I've never heard of taping the feet...not sure what it woulsd accomplish other than not allowing abduction of either leg, but usually, pain prevents much movement anyway......and hog tying is out of vogue right now....

[Maya]

So you're out in the boonies with std. kit, and you are now facing an unstable pelvis with unknown internal bleeding. The kit has cravats but no sheet, what other resources would be viable alternatives for stabilizing the pelvic region? What do members carry that might serve multiple secenario situations. Maybe a thermal shelter mylar sheet/blanket would do the trick? It also doesn't take much space or a weight hit.

Best Regards,

Maya

[swatsurgeon]

the key to the wrap is the width...you need just enough length to perform the cross-over and twist.
mylar, if it is strong enough and won't rip should work.

[swatsurgeon]

Well, we tourtured a few of the MATs at our Tac-Med course last week.(FYI: what used to be the H&K sponsored Tactical Medicine course is now the International School of Tactical Medicine...much improved in my opinion)

The MATs were used by all personnel, including people that had never placed a tourniquet. It was matched against the SAT, CAT and a few other assorted less known devices.
The overwhelming partyline was the MAT was most favored for ease of use, fulfilling all criteria recently published by the armed forced university (uniformed services univ.) position paper....ratchet or buckle (mechanical) to tighten, > 1 1/4 inch width, self applied. A few comments were made that I discussed with the ?owner of MAT. Had operator induced failures: broke ratchet key but leatherman tool salvaged it by turning small knob to tighten. None failed while on although they carried someone by using the device as a carry handle....too much torque was my quess.
Overall, it has my endorsement. Take a look at it, I believe it fits everyones need for a reliable tourniquet.

ss

[Cincinnatus]

Good to hear. I haven't rec'd anything more from Gomez on the MAT. FWIW, from the little playing around that I've done w/ the SOFT-T (I think that's what it's called) and a generic ratchet TQ, I'm underwhelmed. It seems to me that a triangular bandage, prefolded and wrapped w/ duct tape, split key rings, and a carpenter's pencil work about as well, are about as easy to apply, and take up less room.

[Max_Tab]

I don't know if you know, but the MAT wasn't approved for use by the military, in a study by the US Army Institute of Surgical Research. They only approved the CAT, the SOFTT, and one other, which I don't know the name of. I'll try to get some more info soon, and post whatever I get. I just don't want someone to buy it, if it doesn't work 100% of the time, no matter how it is used.

I've carried the SOFTT for the past 3 1/2 years, used them on a couple differant occasions, and it has always worked. The only problem I have ever heard about them is that the screw can get rusty, but if you do a proper PMCS that won't be an issue. I've seen the CAT, and known people who have carried it, and the biggest complaint with them, is that the handle breaks if you apply to much pressure.

just my 2 cents

[swatsurgeon]

Max Tab,
I have a copy of the 2 articles
-Laboratory Evaluation of Battlefield Tourniquets and Issues Related to the Use of Tourniquets on the Battlefield, both done by U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.
They compared the CAT, SOFTT, Hemodyne, EMT, LRT, SATS and MAT tourniquets....concluding that the best stoppers of arterial blood flow , i.e., % effective, pain with application, pain/pinch of device, and malfunction was the EMT, CAT and SOFTT.
As they concluded, the EMT which is pneumatic is impractical for forward field use by the individual operator, the CAT having velcro can fail with that and must be , usually, overtightened to have 100% arterial occlusion, and the SOFTT same overtightening problem, smaller width and small excursions per wrap of the windlass.
We put the MAT to the test and it stops arterial flow to the click of the turnkey, only tightening enough to stop flow as per our doppler on the distal artery, no failures that were not the fault of the person 'abusing' it...we tortured it to make it fail.
I certainly believe the data presented and can reproduce almost all of it except not having the problems with the MAT that they did. (no, I have no alignment or association with any company, we remain objective). Hence by endorsement of the MAT...it may never make it into the hands of all active duty personnel, but for civilian tactical medics and the like, I stand behind it.

ss

[Max_Tab]

Sounds like you have more information than I do. I just want to make sure people who need a tourniquet have the best one that they can get, so I pipe in with my .02.

[swatsurgeon]

I agree with you...the best one per a "lab" study may or may not be what the field operator may win with........a great test would be to give them all a chance for a trial at Ft. Bragg, etc and let the end user compare them, of course adding the elements of modern technology to ensure the desired results are being achieved.

[Max_Tab]

As with anything it has to be "joe" proof, or as I like to say "bravo" proof. :D It needs to be able to stay on someones gear indeffinately, without having to worry that it will break. Few moving pieces, and as close to indestructable as you can find. Nothing worse than being out in the field, and finding out (usually at the worst possible time) that something doesn't work or is broken, esp with a piece of life saving gear.

As for a field study, I know a lot of units have fielded and are currently using the CAT, and the SOFTT, in the GWOT, haven't heard about the MAT. I'm sure there have been studies done, on how they are doing.

[B51]

It looks like this same company has a pelvic stabilizing product, TPOD, that would be a great addition to the bag-o-tricks. It's pricey though, $98.00 for a one time use product. Has anyone used this product?

Thanks,

Maya

My Medical Director (ER Doc in Philly) was taking part in a study with those things. We got them, went through inservice with them, put them on our rigs, but never used them. They definitely seem a little too much, at least pre-hospital speaking. ER could be a different matter, but SWATSURGEON answered that.