Field Amputation: Question for Readers

I’m going to be revisiting my series on field amputation over the next few days. We will be reviewing our own policies and procedures regarding this topic at the trauma operations committee here at Regions Hospital.

I’d like to query my readers, all of you trauma professionals out there in any discipline. Who is qualified to perform this procedure? What special training is required? Can it safely be done by an emergency physician? A paramedic? A nurse? I’ve reviewed quite a bit of the literature. But as we all know, research and reality don’t always coincide. And I’m particularly interested in responses from my international readers.

Please take a moment to email or leave comments below. I’ll compile them over the next few days and publish a compendium next week. Thanks!