The second surgical stabilization station on wheels has become more mobile and versatile. There is no shower room and toilet inside, as there was in the previous trial version, but there are now two operating tables instead of one.
The first domestic stabilization surgery station was made from a 40-foot container. It had a symbolic section for receiving the wounded, an operating unit and a living compartment. There is no need to talk about a generator, water tanks, cabinets for tools and medical equipment – mandatory equipment.
However, this was only a trial version, since it was based on the frame of a three-axle semi-trailer. It was transported by tractor somewhere between the front and rear, where enemy mortars could not reach, and unhooked. The car was on its way to carry out other transport missions, and the medical team immediately treated the wounded.
There were no complaints and there are still no: the stabilization surgery center regularly performs its task. This is the primary surgical treatment of wounds, starting with stopping bleeding, removing tourniquets and tourniquets and stabilizing the wounded for further transportation to rear hospitals for final surgical treatment and treatment in an inpatient setting.
A three-axle semi-trailer with a surgical module in transport mode is ready for transportation to a new location. Photo: Keep Life
No reproaches, but it can be better
The stabilization mobile station on the frame of the semi-trailer is equipped similarly to the stabilization station somewhere in the building. The only difference is that he moves as close to the front line as possible. For most severe wounds, the countdown is in minutes, and the presence of such a point somewhere close to the front line allows us to provide primary aid and save our guys.
A station on wheels, which Keep Life donated through the Charitable Foundation. Boris Voznitsky” to doctors of the Zaporozhye region, has all the living conditions for work, not to mention specialized surgical. It is warm for the cold season, since the walls here with insulation are something like a sandwich. There is a powerful autonomous heater, and for the summer heat – air conditioning.
The operating unit in the container module is fully equipped, but there is not enough space. Photo: Keep Life
The lighting here is sometimes even better than a hospital – a powerful generator powers all surgical equipment, lighting and communications equipment. If necessary, paramedics can consult with hospital specialists.
Handing over the equipped semi-trailer to the doctors, the developers asked one thing: after some time, based on the results of operation, please express your comments on the filling, ergonomics and mobility of the surgical stabilization point. Doctors collected their proposals for the development of the next models and passed them on to the developers.
At the same time, not a single reproach was voiced. And this is understandable, since the first model produced was developed with the consultation of surgeons. In real operating conditions, the item proved itself well and was even considered one of the best among Ukrainian analogues existing at that time. But we can do even better.
Add a mobility item
This is the first thing that was said in the doctors’ proposal. The stabilization surgical station on the frame of a semi-trailer has good characteristics and is convenient to use, but it is still not as mobile as we would like. And at the same time it is also quite massive in size.
According to doctors, the mobile stabilization point should be on a car chassis. This will give maneuverability and efficiency. They expressed their proposals on just a few points.
Suggestions for improving the surgical stabilization station:
improved mobility; small external dimensions; increase in internal working area; complete autonomy; reliable energy supply/energy saving.
This is what the new surgical stabilization station looks like when deployed.. Photo: Keep Life
Keep Life developers listened to suggestions. After additional consultations with doctors, we began to create a more ergonomic point for stabilizing the sick and wounded, including performing advanced surgical operations directly near the sites of injury or the onset of a clinical case.
It was done in such a way that, if necessary, this documentation would form the basis not only of a mobile surgical profile, but also for mobile dentistry and gynecology. Of course, they tied it to a car chassis. Thanks to donations, we received a ten-ton DAF LF.
To expand the usable area, we settled on a transformer body. This is one of the most effective methods that allows you to turn the body from transport mode to working mode by expanding the side walls. Or rather, parts of the sidewalls.
Welding the frame of the left retractable sidewall of the medical module already connected to the main part of the body structure. Photo: Keep Life
In the transport position, the dimensions shifted slightly from the classic dimensions of the van, but did not exceed the limits of traffic regulations – 7.2 x 2.5 x 2.4 meters. The developed system for removing the side panels allows you to easily transform the body and get a more spacious room.
Internal usable working area increases by 8 square meters. meters. Deployment can be easily handled by the driver without assistance. To do this, 10-20 minutes are enough for him.. During this time, he expands the sidewalls and fixes them with outriggers, two supports on each side. Thus, loading from the inside onto the floor from an extended part of the body does not affect deflection, the car does not become loose, which is important during surgical operations, and it resists even a short blast wave.
In the car module everything is like in a hospital
The developers have achieved the main requirement – the surgical stabilization point has become mobile to the maximum. If necessary, it can move along a field road even with the sidewalls deployed, you just need to lift the fixation outriggers. In the event of enemy shelling, you can thus leave the danger zone with medical personnel and the wounded inside. In this case, the 16 kW generator set will operate and supply current to the module for all equipment and lighting.
The operating unit is prepared for work in a matter of minutes under the adjusted ergonomics of each surgical team. Operating nurses and doctors can easily cope with this. Photo: Keep Life
There are five people in the module during the presentation of the mobile surgical stabilization station to doctors and it is not at all crowded; two surgical teams will fit in and will not interfere with each other. Photo: Keep Life
Here, if necessary, you can perform even complex operations. The mobile module has all the necessary set: artificial ventilation device, oxygen concentrator, multiparametric monitor, electrosurgical device, defibrillator, sterilizer, ultrasound. The operating unit has already received not one table, as in the first module on the frame of a semi-trailer, but two full-fledged operating tables for the work of two medical teams – surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses.
As the field surgeon “Shaman”, who has experience in using the first “container” version of the mobile surgical station for stabilizing the wounded, emphasized, this is only the initial configuration and in the future, narrow specialists will improve the tools and equipment for specific needs.
The module has only one entrance door and two small windows, but thanks to a well-thought-out ventilation system there is always good access to fresh air. Photo: Keep Life
As evidenced by the experience of the previous mobile version, the new Keep Life mobile surgical stabilization unit for two operating posts has a throughput capacity of not 30, but 60 wounded/injured persons per day.
However, notes Keep Life project manager Sergei Nechitailenko, it is not worth focusing on a stable value here, since everything depends on the complexity of the operation – it can be less or even more.
If in the warm season the readiness of the medical unit occurs practically “on wheels” – stopped, turned around, placed in a matter of minutes, then at critical temperatures in winter or cold in autumn or spring it takes 15-20 minutes to warm up the room.
The mobile stabilization station for the wounded was not painted in camouflage color – it was done in white, marking the vehicle on top, in front, along the sides and behind with a medical symbol. Opening fire on such vehicles is considered a crime.. Photo: Keep Life
There is complete autonomy here. Working in the field thanks to a generator and powerful batteries eliminates the problem of power supply. The 360 liter fuel tank capacity is enough for two days of continuous operation and even more. As for water reserves, there is also enough of it here, but it needs to be brought in from time to time – the tank is designed for 650 liters.
Thus, the Keep Life developers not only fulfilled the technical specifications for mobility, autonomy and reliable power supply of the car, prescribed together with doctors, but also exceeded it.
According to paramedics, the need for such mobile surgical stabilization units for the wounded is not just great, but very great. Their value is the same as ammunition, pickups or food. Such points on a vehicle chassis are needed at all sectors of the front, as intermediate points between the front line and medical hospitals in the rear.
The organizers of the Keep Life project are already ready to begin mass production of such modules on a car chassis to save our wounded, crippled defenders, but it all comes down to money, which the charitable organization practically does not have.