The National Armed Forces of Latvia Organize Definitive Surgical Trauma Care Course for Military Medical Professionals

From 21 to 23 May, Latvia is hosting the Definitive Surgical Trauma Care course (DSTC/DATC – Definitive Surgical Trauma Care / Definitive Anaesthetic Trauma Care), organized by the Training and Doctrine Command of the National Armed Forces in cooperation with the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care.

This is an internationally recognized training programme for medical professionals focused on advanced emergency care for surgical trauma patients, incorporating elements of surgery and intensive care. The Definitive Surgical Trauma Care course is being organized in Latvia for the first time.

The aim of the course is to develop and improve the competencies of medical support teams within National Armed Forces medical treatment facilities in medical decision-making, team cooperation, and clinical algorithm-based operations. The training is conducted within the framework of the National Armed Forces medical support capability training concept.

During the training, participants acquire knowledge and practice skills necessary to provide therapeutic emergency medical care, intensive care, resuscitation (DCR – damage control resuscitation), and life-saving emergency surgery (DCS – damage control surgery) for surgical trauma patients, stabilizing them for further transportation to higher-level specialized medical institutions within the civilian disaster medicine system. The course also provides knowledge and skills in treating patients who have already received emergency medical assistance at previous stages of care.

The course is attended by professionally qualified medical personnel from the Medical Companies of the 2nd Vidzeme Brigade and the 4th Kurzeme Brigade of the National Guard of the National Armed Forces. The training helps maintain and enhance military medical competencies within the National Armed Forces.

The DSTC/DATC course is an internationally recognized advanced trauma care training programme. It is supported by several national and international professional organizations of surgeons and anesthesiologists, as well as medical training institutions. The programme is currently implemented in more than 30 countries.

To ensure a high level of training, the course includes instructors from the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care, representatives of the Estonian Defence Forces military medical service, specialists from the Latvian Association of Surgeons, a professor from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, and the head of the Latvian Association of Traumatologists.

Information prepared by:

Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces

Information Analysis and Management Department

Communications Division

E-mail: prese@mil.lv