A U.S. Army Forward Surgical Team's experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Trauma Surgery
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Forward Army Surgical Teams (FSTs) were developed to deliver critical surgical care forward on the battlefield.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom was the largest deployment of the FST concept.
• This review details the 555th FST's experience during the Operation Iraqi Freedom assault phase.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the operational experience of the 555th Forward Army Surgical Team (FST) during the assault phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• To analyze patient demographics, injury patterns, and surgical procedures performed by the FST.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of far-forward surgical care delivery.

Main Methods:

• Data collection over 23 days during the Operation Iraqi Freedom assault phase (starting March 21, 2003).
• Recording of patient data including combatant status, anatomical injury location, and surgical interventions.
• Analysis of patient outcomes and injury characteristics.

Main Results:

• The 555th FST evaluated 154 patients: 52 enemy prisoners of war (EPWs), 79 U.S. soldiers, and 23 Iraqi civilians.
• Most common injuries for EPWs were lower extremity and chest (48%, 25%).
• U.S. soldiers and civilians sustained predominantly upper and lower extremity injuries, with EPWs showing a higher proportion of thoracic and abdominal injuries.

Conclusions:

• Forward Army Surgical Teams (FSTs) effectively provided life-saving resuscitation and stabilization for U.S. soldiers, EPWs, and civilians at the front lines.
• Body armor and armored vehicles reduced torso injuries in U.S. soldiers treated by the FST.
• Enhancements to FST equipment are recommended to improve far-forward surgical care capabilities.