Forward Surgical Teams

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The Forward Surgical Team (FST) is a mobile surgical team of the U.S. Army. It may be attached to a Combat Support Hospital to provide an additional surgical facility. The unit is designed to get patients into the operating room, stabilized for travel, and then sent to an Army hospital. They deploy in the area of a maneuver brigade or armored cavalry regiment and typically includes 20 staff members: 4 Surgeons, 3 RN's, 2 nurse anesthetist CRNA's, 1 Administrative Officer, 3 LPN's, 3 Surgical Tech's, 4 Medics.

The team is capable of continuous operations with a divisional or non-divisional medical company/troop for up to 72 hours while performing a maximum of 30 critical surgeries. The FST can sustain surgery for 24 total operating table hours and has the ability to separate into two teams that function independently. A functional operating room can be established within one hour of being on scene and break down to move to a new location with in two hours of ceasing operations. Surgery performed only pertains to life, limb, and sight. This includes major chest and abdominal wounds, continuing hemorrhage, severe shock, compromised airway or respiratory distress, amputations, major organ fractures, crush injuries, and acutely deteriorating consciousness with closed head wounds.

The Forward Surgical Team is organized into four functional areas:

• Triage/Trauma Management – Immediate initial triage and care of wounded upon establishing an area of operation.
• Triage/EMT – Trauma triage capable of stabilizing and preparing multiple casualties for surgery or transport, if stable.
• Surgery – Able to set up and begin surgery within one hour and can be at full functioning capacity within two hours of establishing an area of operation.
• Post Op ICU – Consists of eight beds for post-surgical care with two of the beds reserved for patients awaiting evacuation.

Forward Surgical Teams must clear patients quickly because, as the front line moves, so does the surgical team. The unit is able to pack the hospital in six HMMWVs and trailers, move the unit, then unpack and reset for surgery within a few hours.