Abstract

The purpose of this study is to present the findings of researches, aspects of literature and suggestions of training and reference books about releasing time and duration of a tourniquet if it is a correct application.
To present the historical process of tourniquet application, we searched the words “tourniquet”, “remove”, “release”, “time”, and “duration” at the published articles and we reviewed some of these items. And also some training sheets and reference books about medical support of military operations, and hemorrhage control are reviewed for the purpose of determining the correct procedure about removing or releasing a tourniquet.
All the medical or non-medical military personnel know the time of tourniquet application. There is almost no question on it. But, the question of “when should a tourniquet be released?” occurs, with all its uncertainty, in person’s mind. Old aspects recommend that tourniquet should be released in every 15-30 minutes intervals, but new studies show and current training books recommend that tourniquet can be used safely within two hours and a tourniquet should not be released unless the hemorrhage can be controlled surgically.
Despite all the fear of tourniquet complications, it should not be avoided to use when required. But soldiers should know issues about tourniquets especially releasing time of it.

Key words: tourniquet, release, remove, duration, complication

Article Language: Turkish English