Differences In Prehospital Care Research Articles

Measures of patient acuity among children encountered by emergency medical services by the Child Opportunity Index

ABSTRACT Background. Children have differing utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) by socioeconomic status. We evaluated differences in prehospital care among children by the Child Opportunity Index (COI), the agreement between a child’s COI at the scene and at home, and in-hospital outcomes for children by COI. Methods. We performed a retrospective study of pediatric (<18 years) scene encounters from approximately 2,000 United States EMS agencies from the 2021-2022 ESO Data Collaborative. We evaluated socioeconomic status using the multi-dimensional COI v2.0 at the scene. We described EMS interventions and in-hospital outcomes by COI categories using ordinal regression. We evaluated the agreement between the home and scene COI. Results. Data were available for 99.8% of pediatric scene runs, with 936,940 included EMS responses. Children from lower COI areas more frequently had a response occurring at home (62.9% in Very Low COI areas; 47.1% in Very High COI areas). Children from higher COI areas were more frequently not transported to the hospital (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-0.87). Children in lower COI areas had lower use of physical (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13-1.33) and chemical (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.29-1.55) restraints for behavioral health problems. Among injured children with elevated pain scores (≥7), analgesia was provided more frequently to children in higher COI areas (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.65-1.81). The proportion of children in cardiac arrest was lowest from higher COI areas. Among 107,114 encounters with in-hospital data, the proportion hospitalized was higher among children from higher COI areas (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.11-1.18) and the proportion with in-hospital mortality lower (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.85). Home and scene COI had strong agreement (Kendall’s W = 0.81). Conclusion. Patterns of EMS utilization among children with prehospital emergencies differ by COI. Some measures, such as for in-hospital mortality, occurred more frequently among children transported from Very Low COI areas, whereas others, such as admission, occurred more frequently among children from Very High COI areas. These findings have implications in EMS planning and in alternative out-of-hospital care models, including in regional placement of ambulance stations.

Prehospital and emergency management of pediatric traumatic brain injury: a multicenter site survey.

There is a paucity of information on pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) care in Asia and Latin America. In this study, the authors aimed to describe the clinical practices of emergency departments (EDs) participating in the Saline in Asia and Latin-America Neurotrauma in the Young (SALTY) study, by comparing designated trauma centers (DTCs) and nontrauma centers (NTCs) in their networks. The authors performed a site survey study on pediatric TBI management in the EDs in 14 countries. Two European centers joined other participating sites in Asia and Latin America. Questions were formulated after a critical review of current TBI guidelines and published surveys. The authors performed a descriptive analysis and stratified centers based on DTC status. Of 24 responding centers (70.6%), 50.0% were DTCs, 70.8% had academic affiliations, and all centers were in urban settings. Patients were predominantly transferred to DTCs by centralized prehospital services compared to those sent to NTCs (83.3% vs 41.7%, p = 0.035). More NTCs received a majority of their patients directly from the trauma scene compared to DTCs (66.7% vs 25.0%, p = 0.041). Ten centers (41.7%) reported the use of a TBI management guideline, and 15 (62.5%) implemented CT protocols. Ten DTCs reported implementation of intervention strategies for suspected raised intracranial pressure (ICP) before conducting a CT scan, and 6 NTCs also followed this practice (83.3% vs 50.0%, p = 0.083). ED management for children with TBI was comparable between DTCs and NTCs in the following aspects: neuroimaging, airway management, ICP monitoring, fluid resuscitation, anticoagulant therapy, and serum glucose control. Hyperventilation therapy for raised ICP was used by 33.3% of sites. This study evaluated pediatric TBI management and infrastructure among 24 centers. Limited differences in prehospital care and ED management for pediatric patients with TBI were observed between DTCs and NTCs. Both DTCs and NTCs showed variation in the implementation of current TBI management guidelines. There is an urgent need to investigate specific barriers to guideline implementation in these regions.

Treatment approaches of electrical injuries

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in prehospital care, admission characteristics, burn intensive care, surgery and outcomes in patients requiring admission to a burn intensive care unit. Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 31 patients, who were hospitalized within the Clinical Hospital of Orthopedics and Traumatology in the period 2015-2019. The data analysis was carried out on the applied method of surgical treatment, the associated postoperative complications, antibiotic therapy applied, etc. Results: 27 out of the total number of patients underwent necrectomy and extensive wound debridement surgery in the first hours upon admission. 14 patients required additional decompression incisions in the underlying skin and fascia. 4 patients out of the total number presented visible signs of carbonization on the affected areas upon admission, therefore they were subjected to an emergency amputation. Out of 27 patients classified as “delayed emergency” cases, 13 patients were subjected to amputation of the corresponding segments. Conclusions: Electrical injuries are a severe cause of disability, as well as a challenging issue for reconstructive surgery, which is concerned with restoring the damaged structures with prosthetic amputation abutments, therefore improving the aesthetic and psychological appearance of the patients.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the procedural and intra-hospital outcome of STEMI patients

Abstract Background While during the COVID-19 pandemic the number of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) decreased, no change in patient or system delay could be shown due to local lockdown (LD) policy. Not much is known about the influence of LD on procedural details and intrahospital outcome of these patients. Methods Data was obtained from 511 patients treated for acute STEMI (24hours from symptom onset) from January 2019 to March 8th 2021 at two primary PCI (pPCI) centers in Germany. Patients presenting as intra-hospital STEMI, patients showing no culprit lesion and patients undergoing direct CABG were excluded. Overall, 456 patients (74% male, mean age 64±12) were included. These patients were divided into two groups: complete lockdown (LD; n=58; March 21st–April 20th 2020 and December 16th 2020–March 7th 2021) and no complete lockdown (No-LD; n=398)). Results There were no differences in pre-hospital care between the groups: Telemedicine (LD 23.5% vs. No-LD 34.9%; p=0.11), pre-alarm of the cath-lab staff (LD 59.6% vs. 66.6%, p=0.32) and direct admission to the cath-lab (LD 44.8% vs. No-LD 49.8%, p=0.58) were performed as often as in No-LD times. Neither the pain to first medical contact (LD 188±272 Min vs. No-LD 236±317 Min, p=0.29) nor the door to balloon time (55±54 Min vs. No-LD 49±58 Min, p=0.470) as well as other periods showed any difference. All over cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR; LD 19.0% vs. No-LD 14.3%, p=0.35) or presentation with cardiogenic shock (25.9% vs 23.9%, p=0.74) was equally presented in both groups. However, left ventricular assist devices were implanted more often during LD (6.9% vs. No-LD 1.8%; p=0.017). Primary radial access was performed in the majority of the cases (LD 60.3% vs. No-LD 58.8%, p=0.82). During LD the culprit lesion was RCA in most cases (46.6% vs. No-LD LAD 46.7%, p=0.341). Stent thrombosis was not more common in out-of-hospital STEMI patients during LD (6.9% vs. 8.0%, p=0.76). Thrombus aspiration was performed in 10.3% during lockdown (vs. No-LD 4.5%, p=0.06), GP-IIb-IIIa inhibitors were not administered more often (LD 19.0% vs. No-LD 19.4%, p=0.92) and no reflow phenomenon was not seen more frequent (LD 20.7% vs. No-LD 21.3% p=0.91). TIMI III flow could be established in the majority of the cases (LD 86.0% vs. No-LD 91.5%, p=0.20). During further hospital stay, neither the frequency of ventilator (LD 17.2% vs. No-LD 17.0%, p=0.98) nor vasopressor use (LD 20.7% vs. No-LD 20.1% p=0.925) differed. Left ventricular function (47±13% vs. No-LD 45±12%; p=0.34) and maximum creatinkinase (LD 1827±1687 U/l vs. No-LD: 2292±4100 U/l, p=0.40) showed no difference between the groups as did intrahospital death (LD 10.3% vs. No-LD 11.6%, p=0.79). Conclusion Despite the known decline in STEMI patients during LD periods, patient care, procedural details and inta-hospital outcome of the ones presenting to a pPCI hospital do not change during LD periods. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Rural risk: Geographic disparities in trauma mortality

Barriers to trauma care for rural populations are well documented, but little is known about the magnitude of urban-rural disparities in injury mortality. This study sought to quantify differences in injury mortality comparing rural and nonrural residents with traumatic injuries. Using data from the 2009-2010 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate odds of death after traumatic injury for rural residents compared with nonrural residents, while controlling for age, sex, injury type and severity, comorbidities, trauma designation, and Census region. Rural residents were 14% more likely to die after traumatic injury compared with nonrural residents (P<.001). Increased odds of death for rural residents were observed at level I (odds ratio=1.20, P<.001), level II (odds ratio=1.34, P<.001), and level IV/nontrauma centers (odds ratio=1.23, P<.001). The disparity was greatest for injuries occurring in the South and Midwest (odds ratio=1.54, P<.001 and odds ratio=2.06, P<.001, respectively) and for cases with an injury severity score <9 or unknown severity (odds ratio=2.09, P<.001 and odds ratio=1.31, P<.001, respectively). Rural residents are significantly more likely than nonrural residents to die after traumatic injury. This disparity varies by trauma center designation, injury severity, and US Census region. Distance and time to treatment likely play a role in rural injury outcomes, along with regional differences in prehospital care and trauma system organization.

Retrospective analysis of the role and performance of family medicine versus emergency medical services in the pre-hospital management of patients with AMI in Banja Luka.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in pre-hospital care of patients with acute myocardial infarction between emergency medical services and family medicine. This retrospective descriptive study included patients treated for acute myocardial infarction at the University Clinical Centre of Banja Luka, in the period from 1st January to 31st December 2011. The patients were divided into two groups: patients who received a hospital referral from the family medicine service and those who received one from the emergency medical service. The majority of patients (54.8%) received pre-hospital care from emergency medical services, while in 24.8% of cases the care was provided by family medicine physicians. The analysis showed that the time that passed from the onset of symptoms to the visit to the health institution of first medical contact was shorter in the emergency medical service (p<0.001). The average time from the onset of symptoms to arrival at the family practice was 24 hours, and to the emergency service 2 hours. The patients who established their first medical contact with the emergency service reported more severe symptoms than the ones who visited a family practice over the same period of time. The severity of symptoms affected the patients' decisions to seek help in a timely manner and to choose the facility of first medical contact. Interventions to decrease delay must focus on improving public awareness of acute myocardial infarction symptoms and increasing their knowledge of the benefits of early medical contact and treatment. Continuing education of family practitioners in this field is required.

BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS FOR PEOPLE IN BME GROUPS ACCESSING PRE-HOSPITAL CARE AND CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF ANY DIFFERENCES IN DELIVERY: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND NARRATIVE SYNTHESIS

IntroductionResearch addressing inequalities has focused predominantly on primary and community care; few initiatives relate to the pre-hospital environment. We aimed to identify in the literature barriers or facilitators experienced by...

Standardised pre-hospital care of acute myocardial infarction patients: MISSION! guidelines applied in practice

Background. To improve acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care in the region 'Hollands-Midden' (the Netherlands), a standardised guideline-based care program was developed (MISSION!). This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of the pre-hospital part of the MISSION! program and to study potential differences in pre-hospital care between four areas of residency.Methods. Time-to-treatment delays, AMI risk profile, cardiac enzymes, hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, and pre-AMI medication was evaluated in consecutive AMI patients (n=863, 61±13years, 75% male) transferred to the Leiden University Medical Center for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Results. Median time interval between onset of symptoms and arrival at the catheterisation laboratory was 150 (interquartile range [IQR] 101-280) minutes. The alert of emergency services to arrival at the hospital time was 48 (IQR 40-60) minutes and the door-to-catheterisation laboratory time was 23 (IQR 13-42) minutes. Despite significant regional differences in ambulance transportation times no difference in total time from onset of symptoms to arrival at the catheterisation room was found. Peak troponin T was 3.33 (IQR 1.23-7.04) μg/l, hospital stay was 2 (IQR 2-3) days and in-hospital mortality was 2.3%. Twelve percent had 0 known risk factors, 30% had one risk factor, 45% two to three risk factors and 13% had four or more risk factors. No significant differences were observed for AMI risk profiles and medication pre-AMI. Conclusions. This study shows that a standardised regional AMI treatment protocol achieved optimal and uniformly distributed pre-hospital performance in the region 'Hollands-Midden', resulting in minimal time delays regardless of area of residence. Hospital stay was short and in-hospital mortality low. Of the patients, 88% had ≥1 modifiable risk factor. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:408-15.).

Pediatric deaths and emergency medical services (EMS) in urban and rural areas.

A total of 1078 pediatric coroners' cases in 11 rural and urban California counties were reviewed as they relate to emergency medical services (EMS). Pediatric coroners' death rates per 100,000 population varied from an average of 2.17 in the rural region to 30.4 in the urban region. Vehicular accidents caused the majority (66%) of the accidental deaths, and firearms caused 61% of the violent deaths. Violent deaths (homicide and suicide) were significantly more common in the urban region (P less than 0.001), and vehicular deaths (excluding auto versus pedestrian) were more common in the rural region (P less than 0.001). EMS provider usage was greater in the urban areas (84 vs 66%, P less than 0.001), as was the number of cases receiving advanced life support (97 vs 66%, P less than 0.001). Urban and rural differences in place of death were significant for two places of death; street and highway, and inhospital deaths. A significantly greater number of children died on the street/highway in rural areas (P less than 0.05). Hospital deaths were more likely to occur on the ward in the rural region, versus the intensive care unit in the urban region (P less than 0.001). Proposed factors which may explain these findings include differences in medical resources and in local transfer policies. The study demonstrates that EMS providers are involved in the care of children who have had a fatal emergency. Further evaluation of rural and urban differences in prehospital care of the pediatric patient is indicated.