In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis Price discusses the efforts of Heroes for Humanity in response to Hurricane Helene's devastation in Western North Carolina. He shares insights on the immediate activation of volunteers, the assessment of needs, and the challenges faced during search and rescue operations. The conversation highlights the im…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis and JP Kolcun, a neurosurgery resident, delve into the complexities of spinal trauma. They discuss the differences between spinal shock and neurogenic shock, the assessment and management of penetrating and blunt spinal injuries, and the critical importance of addressing secondary injuries. The conversatio…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis, Jacob, and Alex discuss the unique challenges of providing medical care in Arctic conditions. They share their experiences and insights on managing cold weather injuries, innovative techniques for treating frostbite, and the complexities of airway management in extreme cold. The conversation also covers t…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis and ICU doctor Doug discuss the intricacies of resuscitation techniques, focusing on the use of freeze-dried plasma (FTP) and its benefits in trauma care. They explore the physiological aspects of trauma, the role of endotheliopathy, and practical applications of FTP in emergency situations. The conversati…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis speaks with Dr. Lee Cancio, a surgeon and director of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center. They discuss the complexities of managing white phosphorus burns, a serious concern in modern warfare. Dr. Cancio shares insights on the properties of white phosphorus, the mechanisms of injury, …

In this podcast episode, Dennis and Chris discuss the essentials of starting a podcast, including overcoming initial fears, the importance of authentic conversations, essential gear, post-production techniques, and the significance of media hosting. They also address common pitfalls like podfading, the need for quality content, and the importance o…

In this episode, Dennis discusses the role of sodium bicarbonate in medical protocols, particularly in the context of rhabdomyolysis and hyperkalemia. He emphasizes the importance of fluid management and the potential over-hyping of bicarbonate as a treatment. The conversation explores the risks associated with rhabdomyolysis, the mechanisms of pot…

In this episode of the PFC podcast, Dennis and Kevin delve into the critical aspects of patient care, particularly focusing on hypothermia management. They explore the mechanisms of heat loss in patients, strategies to prevent it, and the challenges faced in austere environments. The conversation emphasizes the importance of maintaining patient war…

In this conversation, Dennis and Aubrick discuss the critical importance of improvised medicine in austere environments, particularly focusing on the MARCH algorithm for trauma care. They delve into various techniques for managing massive hemorrhage, including improvised tourniquets and pelvic binders, as well as airway management strategies. The d…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis interviews Mark Little, a recently retired Navy medic with extensive maritime experience. They discuss the unique challenges faced in maritime operations, including planning for casualties, the importance of waterproof gear, and the need for thorough preparation. Mark emphasizes the significance of masteri…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis and Burjor Langdana delve into the intricacies of maxillofacial surgery, particularly in austere environments. They discuss critical aspects of managing facial trauma, including hemorrhage control, airway management, and techniques for treating various injuries. The conversation highlights the importance o…

In this episode, Dennis interviews Justin, a second-year medical student and co-founder of Special Operations Forces to School of Medicine (SOFTSOM), a nonprofit organization that helps Special Operations Forces service members and veterans in their journey to become physicians. Justin explains that SOFTSOM provides mentorship, guidance, and suppor…

Dr. Burjor Langdana discusses dental care in austere environments and provides tips for handling dental emergencies. He emphasizes the importance of preventive care, such as dental check-ups and good oral hygiene, before embarking on a trip. He advises carrying a dental kit with essential materials like temporary filling material and an intra-oral …

In this conversation, Dennis and Mark discuss the importance of understanding wound ballistics in trauma surgery. Mark shares his experience working with special operations teams and developing medical proficiency training. They delve into the impact of high-energy rifle wounds and the fragmentation of bullets inside the body. They also discuss the…

The conversation explores the topic of unconventional medical networks and how to establish them. The guest, Regan Lyon, discusses his thesis on this subject and the challenges involved. They discuss the historical context of guerrilla hospitals and the need for medical care in unconventional warfare scenarios. They also touch on the limitations an…

In this conversation, Kevin and Dennis discuss nursing care in a prolonged field care (PFC) setting. Kevin, an experienced nurse anesthetist, provides insights into when PFC nursing care begins and the importance of gathering data and assessing patients. He emphasizes the role of nurses in providing interventions such as pulmonary toileting, turnin…

In this podcast episode, Dennis and Andy Fisher discuss the co-administration of ketamine and Versed. They explore the reasons behind the common practice of adding Versed to ketamine, the concept of emergence reactions, and the appropriate use of Versed. They also touch on the potential risks and side effects of both drugs and the importance of ind…

In this conversation, Dennis and Dave discuss procedures like cricothyroidotomy (cric) and chest tube placement in the context of extended care. They explore the challenges of managing patients with airway interventions and the importance of considering the context and resources available. They also discuss the criteria for removing a cric or chest…

In this podcast episode, Dennis and Pac discuss the use of ketamine in medical settings, particularly in austere environments. They cover topics such as the differences between S-ketamine and R-ketamine, the dosing and administration of ketamine for sedation and analgesia, and its use in hemodynamically unstable patients and refractory seizures. Th…

In this conversation, Dennis and Monti discuss the process of product development. They cover topics such as generating ideas, validating ideas with potential customers, protecting intellectual property, and deciding whether to build a business or collaborate with another company. Monti shares his experience with developing the APRU and Delta Ice p…

In this conversation, Rick, a senior medic for the 10th Special Forces Group, shares lessons learned from a mass casualty event in Eastern Afghanistan. He discusses the different types of mass casualty situations and the challenges faced in both reactive and proactive scenarios. Rick emphasizes the importance of realistic training scenarios and the…

In this podcast episode, Dennis, Rick, and Paul discuss the challenges of training in the field of prolonged field care (PFC) and advanced medical training. They address the common problems of miscommunication and unrealistic expectations when it comes to training requests. The conversation covers topics such as setting realistic goals, creating ef…

In this podcast episode, Dennis and Ian discuss the process of disposition in emergency medical care. They explore how to transfer patients who cannot be evacuated to a higher level of care and instead need to be sent back to their families or local medical systems. The key steps in the disposition process include evaluating life threats, stabilizi…

Mikola, a combat medic from the Ukrainian Special Operations Task Forces, shares his experience and challenges in providing medical care in the war-torn region of Ukraine during SOMSA 24. He discusses the difficulties of operating in a large and constantly changing frontline, with different terrain and medical systems in each administrative region.…

In this podcast episode, Dr. DeMello discusses the management of burns in a pre-hospital setting. He emphasizes the importance of following the MARCH approach and not letting the burn distract from other life-threatening injuries. He also highlights the challenges of accurately calculating the total body surface area (TBSA) affected by the burn and…

In this episode, Dennis and Alex discuss the importance of reading research papers and critically analyzing their applicability to the operational environment. They review a paper on the role of red blood cells in thrombosis and post-transfusion hypercoagulability. The study found that red blood cell aggregation increased in the presence of tissue …

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Colonel Stacey Shackelford discusses abdominal trauma and exsanguinating hemorrhage. He highlights the findings from studies on casualties who died before reaching a surgical hospital, with close to 90% of those deaths caused by bleeding. The majority of potentially survivable injuries resulting in death were fro…

The conversation revolves around the topic of ether and its use in surgery. Mike and Brad, both medical professionals, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using ether as an anesthetic. They highlight its historical significance, safety profile, availability in developing countries, and field expediency. They also mention the flammability and pung…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis and Jamie discuss the importance of tourniquet conversion in the context of combat medicine. They explain the difference between tourniquet conversion and tourniquet replacement, emphasizing the need to control bleeding and save tissue. They discuss the timing of tourniquet conversion, highlighting the imp…

In this podcast episode, Dennis interviews Tom Avery, a surgeon who worked in Myanmar with the Free Burma Rangers. Tom shares his experience providing critical care in a war-torn area and the challenges he faced. He discusses the importance of stabilizing patients and bridging the gap between the frontline and higher echelons of care. Tom emphasize…

In this podcast episode, Dennis and Brad discuss the use of fentanyl as an opioid analgesic. They explore the history and development of fentanyl, its pharmacological properties, and its advantages over other opioids. They also discuss the administration of fentanyl, including IV and lollipop forms, and the importance of titrating the dose to the p…

In this part of the conversation, Dennis and Andy discuss common health issues and injuries that can occur in the jungle. They specifically focus on heat illnesses, musculoskeletal conditions, dermatological conditions, and tropical diseases. They provide tips on how to manage exertional heat illness, such as stopping activity, finding shade, and u…

This podcast episode discusses the topics of PTSD, TBI, sleep, and suicide, particularly in relation to military personnel. The speaker, Joe Cooper, provides insights into the overlapping nature of these conditions and the need for a comprehensive approach to treatment. He emphasizes the importance of therapy as the primary treatment for PTSD and h…

In this podcast episode, Dennis interviews Andy, a former UK Special Forces paramedic, about working in the jungle. They discuss the challenges and skills required to operate in the jungle, such as personal administration, environmental health, and communication. Andy emphasizes the importance of being physically fit and mentally prepared for the j…

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss regional anesthesia and its role in the priorities of analgesia. They explain that regional anesthesia is a tool that allows for pain control without taking away consciousness or respiratory drive. They discuss the decision-making process for when to use regional anesthesia versus other forms of pain manag…

Phil Gonzalez, a combat medic, shares his experiences in Vietnam and his journey to becoming a medic. He discusses the intense situations he faced in Vietnam, including being in dangerous situations and witnessing the horrors of war. He also talks about the importance of medics in Special Forces and the impact they have on the people they treat. Af…

The conversation discusses patient positioning during procedural sedation and the use of Versed (Midazolam) as a sedative. The speakers explore the importance of patient positioning and the need to have a plan for airway management in different positions. They also provide insights into the mechanism of action and dosing of Versed, highlighting the…

Dennis Price discusses his experiences in organizing rescues in Afghanistan and Ukraine. He attributes his success to the blessings of God and his strong faith. In Afghanistan, he formed a company called Polaris. They were able to save 55 Americans and CIV interpreters in two weeks. Later, he joined a committee called Save Our Allies and worked wit…

In this conversation, Dennis, Evan, and Doug discuss the debate between intubation and cricothyrotomy (cric) in the field. Dennis confesses his belief that intubation is the better option, while Evan and Doug argue for the use of cric in certain situations. They discuss the resource limitations in the field, the need for resuscitation prior to intu…

In this podcast episode, Dennis interviews Dr. Jim DuCanto, an anesthesiologist with a special interest in airway management. They discuss the decision-making process in emergency airway management, particularly in challenging situations such as facial trauma. Dr. DuCanto emphasizes the importance of assessing the patient's neurologic status and re…

In this episode, Dennis, Doug, and Paul discuss how to treat expectant patients in a medical setting. They explore the concept of palliative care and its role in providing comfort to patients at all stages of care. They also discuss the challenges medics face when dealing with expectant patients and the importance of reaching out for support and gu…

The podcast episode discusses the controversial topics of expectant care and end-of-life care in a role one setting. The panel of experienced medics and docs share their personal experiences and concerns regarding training and implementation of these types of care. They highlight the need for clear guidance and training for medics and corpsmen to m…

Bryce, an 18 Delta out of the Special Forces group, discusses the challenges and strategies for training non-medics in medical skills. He emphasizes the importance of building a culture of medical training within the team and the benefits of cross-training. Bryce also highlights the impact of medical training on operational readiness and risk mitig…

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, the speakers discuss the state of medics in Special Operations Medicine and offer recommendations for improvement. They highlight the importance of regular and realistic medical training at the unit level, as well as the need for feedback and accountability. The speakers also address specific issues such as lack …

In this conversation, Dennis, Doug, and Justin discuss the development of a Sepsis Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for prolonged field care. They highlight the importance of early recognition and antibiotic administration in sepsis management. They also discuss the use of scoring systems like QSOFA and NEWS2 to aid in the identification of septic…

In this episode, Doug and Dennis discuss the appropriate use of vasopressors, specifically epinephrine and norepinephrine, in the management of shock. They highlight the importance of fluids in sepsis resuscitation and the potential dangers of using high concentrations of epinephrine. They also discuss the different effects of epinephrine and norep…

In this podcast episode, Dennis and Andrew Fisher discuss the process of setting up a walking blood bank in a military setting. They emphasize the importance of practicing and adapting the process to specific needs. They recommend conducting ABO testing for all potential donors and identifying low-titer O donors as a preferred option. They also dis…

In this conversation, Dennis interviews Victor about his experiences in Burma and his work with Free Burma Rangers. Victor discusses the changing dynamics of the conflict in Burma and the progress made by ethnic forces. He also talks about his role as a medic and the challenges of teaching combat medicine to indigenous groups. Victor emphasizes the…

This podcast episode focuses on the importance of measuring urine output as a cheap and effective method for monitoring hemodynamics in prolonged field care. The hosts discuss the benefits of using a Foley catheter for urine measurement and emphasize the need for proper sterility during the procedure. They also touch on the topic of hypotensive res…

In this conversation, Dennis and Doug discuss crush syndrome and the challenges it presents in dynamic environments such as natural disasters or man-made incidents. They emphasize the importance of scene safety and the need to assess and stabilize any other traumatic injuries before addressing crush syndrome. They also discuss the use of tourniquet…