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Use of a Hooked Cutting Device Compared With Scissors for the Emergency Exposure of Critically Ill and Injured Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2013

Nelson Tang ,
Matthew J. Levy ,
Jeffrey Harrow  and
Nina Bingham
Nelson Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Matthew J. Levy*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Jeffrey Harrow
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Nina Bingham
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland USA
*
Correspondence: Matthew J. Levy, DO, MSc Department of Emergency Medicine School of Medicine Johns Hopkins University 5801 Smith Ave Davis Building, Suite 200 Baltimore, MD 21209 USA E-mail levy@jhmi.edu
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Abstract

Introduction

The initial assessment of critical patients includes prompt identification of life-threatening conditions. Any device or technique that can aid in this process may ultimately save lives. This study examined whether clothing could be removed faster with the use of a hooked cutting device as compared with the commonly-used heavy-duty, blunt-tipped, serrated scissors.

Methods

This study took place in an urban academic emergency department of a Level-1 trauma center. Human patient simulator mannequins were clothed in identical shirts and pants. The time required for clinical personnel to expose the patient using each device was measured. Each of the 50 participants was queried regarding their tactile comfort using each device.

Results

The mean time for shirt removal using scissors was 83 seconds (SD = 55 seconds; 95% CI, 68-99). The mean time for shirt removal using the hook device was 28 seconds (SD = 21 seconds; 95% CI, 22-34). The mean time for pants removal using scissors was 69 seconds (SD = 40 seconds; 95% CI, 56-73). The mean time for pants removal using the hook device was 19 seconds (SD=15 seconds; 95% CI, 15-23).

Conclusions

The hooked device was 69% faster at removing clothing than traditionally-used scissors. Though simple in concept, these implications can be life saving, particularly in conditions of uncontrolled, life-threatening external hemorrhage.

TangN, LevyM, HarrowJ, BinghamN. Use of a Hooked Cutting Device Compared With Scissors for the Emergency Exposure of Critically Ill and Injured Patients. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(6):1-4.

Keywords

hook cutting devicepatient exposurerescue hook
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 43 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

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