Why do we need a new drug?
For a long time, almost about 90% of security personnel have been succumbing to injuries within a few hours. This soon will be a thing of the past as the new developments include- Bleeding wound sealants
- Super absorptive dressings
- Glycerated salines
In most cases, there is not more than a single medical person to take care of the huge number of soldiers, the situation worsened by the presence of limited equipment to tackle the wounds. This is topped by battlefield situations like jungles, hilly terrain, inaccessibility of transportation. All these greatly reduce the chances of survival. While there is still lot to be done about the count of medical professionals , the new advancements surely do promise faster healing time and bringing down the pressure on the battlefield teeming with wounded troopers.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended the drugs to be inducted into their paramilitary forces. Efforts are being made to extend the induction within other security forces as well.
How does it work?
The glycerated saline as opposed to the normal saline is an intravenous fluid that does not freeze till -18 degree celsius. This modification will be instrumental in cases of battlefields situated in high altitudes. Glycerated saline also reduces inflammation and can prove life -saving especially for traumatic edema( draining of fluid in tissue spaces) of the brain and lungs.There also includes a cellulose fibre based dressing which is about 200 times more absorptive than the normal dressing.Infact, the normal dressing causes more harm than good. With sub-optimal absorptive capacities, the traditional cotton dressing becomes sullied after some time and also in cases of heavily bleeding wounds, can enhance the bleeding by sucking the blood out.
The new dressing can also be impregnated with antiseptics, antibiotics and curcumin( the active compound present in turmeric conferring healing benefits to it) for better effect.
Among the other advancements made, there is a Chitosan gel which prevents the loss of blood by forming a protective film over the wound.
Coupled with the natural phenomenon of coagulation, it stops bleeding in lesser time. Incorporated with antibacterial properties, it targets the bleeding and helps in haemostasis. Haemostasis is the process to stop bleeding by keeping the blood within the damaged blood vessel.
It has three major steps:
- Vasoconstriction(pinching of vessels to reduce blood flow)
- Temporary blockage by a platelet plug
- Blood coagulation (turning of liquid blood to a gel like consistency aided by blood clotting factos)
It is helpful in cases of wounds of the limbs as well as cavities like the abdomen and thorax. The gel is poured and pressed with hands for some time until the bleeding stops satisfactorily. It is further topped by Chitosan cover to prevent infection. In cases of deep wounds, other fillers like silk or cellulose granules may be used after the application of the gel followed by the cover.
Other developments
Also making to the list is Hypochlorous Acid(HOCl) that is supposed to work as a disinfectant. The HOCl is an active agent utilized in cleaning of swimming pools and in soaps and sanitizers .The HOCl has been seen to treat 'Necrotising fascitis' which is the death of soft tissues caused by rapidly progressing bacterial infection releasing toxins. Pure 0.01 % HOCl works as a broad-spectrum antibiotic and neutralizes the bacterial toxins complicating the conditions.
The INMAS scientists have also discovered a new route of administering Nalbuphine injection that reduces pain during mutilating injuries. They noted that 10 mg of the drug works better when administered through submental(space between head and neck, around the chin) or sublingual(below tongue) pathways instead of the earlier intravenous or intramuscular ones.
What the future holds?
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From amputations and torniquets(strips of copper placed over wounds) to dressings and ligatures and now finally to super absorptive dressings, we have come a long way vis-a-vis medical attention in case of war injuries. But it seems like there is still a long way to go. While physical trauma is heavily dealt with , there is an aspect to the war not many people are aware about. The war trauma can manifest itself into PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) that can cause problems with memory, anger, irritability, withdrawal from family and friends, attention deficit, recurring nightmares, reliving the event. These symptoms can continue even several years after the original happening. One of the reasons this happens is that the brain functions differently in conditions like wars wherein our survivor mode is switched on. A study showed that long term exposure to life-threatening situations caused cognitive decline( term of decreased brain activity and function) among soldiers. While advancements have been made in the drugs pertaining to physical injury, there is also the need for stringent measures to be taken when it comes to the emotional and mental well-being of soldiers that ensure our protection. Therapies and counselling could prove beneficial in such cases along with practices like yoga and meditation that have been scientifically proven to reduce stress and induce overall well-being. Until anything solid is enforced in this case , we can atleast be grateful for the advancements made as far as casualty drugs are concerned.
Hello! I am Neha Tiwari. Soon starting college in medicine. I like writing and being really vocal about my opinions because I think they matter. I also love reading and gathering information about various stuff ranging from lifestyle to health . In my free time, my go-to activities include meditation and exploring various breathing techniques , apart from cooking and just enjoying whatever nature has to offer.
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