2025 Scientific Assembly recorded sessions. 

THOS Update
Presenter: Mark Yazer, MD

Presenter:  Stuart Baldwinson

Joint Trauma System Update

Prolonged Field Care Update 

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Update

Session Description: Little guidance exists regarding when to de-escalate aggressive treatments on critically ill patients, even in robust healthcare systems. In the limited resource setting, expenditure of medical supplies and effort have profound downstream effects when resupply is delayed or unreliable. Making the decision to discontinue attempts at resuscitation, particularly on teammates, challenges even the most experienced providers. This presentation will discuss the literature around end-of-life care and a framework for creating protocols for conservation of resources, palliative care, and how to discuss with teammates when refocusing efforts on management of pain and suffering when the patient will not survive.

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion, participant will be able to describe how logistical constraints in the austere combat setting limit resuscitative efforts.
• Upon completion, participant will be able to describe prognostic factors to help guide when de-escalation of care would be appropriate.
• Upon completion, participant will be able to develop palliative care protocols for use in austere combat settings.

Presenter:  Maxwell Sirkin, MD, FACS, LTC
Co-Presenter:  MAJ Titus Rund

Hypovolemic Arrest – Ukrainian Military Resuscitation Methodology and Outcomes (2022-2025)

Session Description: Given the renewed emphasis on far-forward DCS during current conflicts and implementing internal lessons identified, we decided to make some adjustments to our Belgian SOST last year. For this challenging task, we chose to prioritize quality over quantity. All team members underwent a selection process in which the selection criteria were tightened, and the physical aspect and correct mindset came to the forefront.

Subsequently, a training path was designed in which, in addition to medical training, the focus was mainly on integration in tactical scenarios. For both selection and training, the Belgian Special Forces Group itself was involved to safeguard the necessary qualities in their enablers and to optimize integration. In addition, the team of five was expanded to six with the addition of a tactical team leader, a SOMT or SOCM who forms the bridge between the medical and tactical aspects of the team. Finally, in terms of configurations, the focus was expanded to configurations including an NSTV and the development of an En route care capability.


Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion, the participant will be able to understand what constitutes a surgical capability for SOF.
• Upon completion, the participant will be able to discuss the importance of a tactical team leader in a surgical capability for SOF.
• Upon completion, the participant will be able to reflect on the importance of change, including within a surgical team for SOF.