Austere Trauma Resuscitation in Large Scale Combat Operations

Session Description: The Ukraine conflict presents a unique, modern case study in large-scale combat operations
(LSCO), highlighting the critical need for advanced military medical support in peer-to-peer
combat scenarios. The role, challenges, and evolution of MedEvac and surgical teams over these
last years emphasized the indispensable need, and innovative evolution, of combat trauma care.
Adapting to the operational difficulties, strategic responses, and treatment advancements by
military medical teams have been crucial in the Ukraine conflict. We discuss the critical
medical advancements in LSCO in Ukraine by reviewing operational data, surgical interventions,
and interviews with medical personnel from 2014 to present. Current Ukraine LSCO posed many
challenges, from executing rapid medical evacuations in contested domains to ensuring timely
surgical interventions under threat. Implementing UAVs and real-time communication platforms
markedly optimized MedEvac missions. Embracing Forward Surgical Teams (FSTs) and
Damage Control Surgery (DCS) directly at or near the frontline significantly bolstered casualty
survival rates in peer-to-peer engagements. Cross-sector partnerships also accelerated the
adoption of advanced medical practices and technologies, enriching the military medical
landscape within LSCO contexts. These findings underscore the vital need for continuous
innovation, research, and cross-training to spearhead advancements in combat casualty care,
ultimately enhancing force resilience and effectiveness in peer-to-peer combat situations.