Prehospital Emergency Setting Research Articles

The accuracy of NEWS-2 in the emergency prehospital setting in Saudi Arabia

The accuracy of NEWS-2 in the emergency prehospital setting in Saudi Arabia

Evaluating the effectiveness of the pre‑hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) program for the management of trauma patients in the pre-hospital emergency based on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model

BackgroundPre-hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) training courses have been developed and widely adopted to enhance the proficiency of pre-hospital personnel in handling trauma patients. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the educational program for managing trauma patients in the pre-hospital emergency setting, utilizing Kirkpatrick’s educational evaluation model.MethodsThis is an observational approach, consisting of four sub-studies. The PHTLS course was conducted over a 2-day period, encompassing both theoretical and practical components. For this study, we selected pre-hospital personnel from three emergency aid stations using a convenient sampling method. These personnel underwent their first-ever PHTLS course training, and we subsequently analyzed the effectiveness of the training program using Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation: satisfaction, learning, behavior, and results.ResultsThe study conducted on Kirkpatrick’s first-level analysis revealed that participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the quality of all aspects of the course. Moving on to the second and third levels, namely learning and behavior, significant improvements were observed in the average scores of various skills that were examined both immediately after the course and 2 months later (P < 0.05). However, when it comes to the fourth level and the impact of the course on indicators such as mortality rate and permanent disability, no significant changes were observed even after an average of 3 months since the course was introduced.ConclusionThe implementation of PHTLS has been linked to the enhancement of participants’ skills in treating trauma patients, leading to the application of acquired knowledge in real-life scenarios and a positive change in participants’ behavior. The evaluation of PHTLS courses in Iran, as in other countries, highlights the need for specialized training in pre-hospital trauma care. To ensure the continued effectiveness of the PHTLS course, it is advisable for managers and policymakers to encourage regular participation of PHTLS employees in the program.

Application of a feedforward control-based intervention for preventing hypothermia in trauma patients in a pre-hospital emergency setting.

To investigate the efficacy of a feedforward control-based intervention strategy for preventing hypothermia among trauma patients during pre-hospital emergency care. We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing trauma patients treated before and after implementing the intervention, with 40 cases in each group. All patients received emergency care from the Fuzhou Emergency Center on the scene. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the risk factors for hypothermia. The effective rate, incidence of adverse reactions, quality of body temperature management, medical staff's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding mild hypothermia prevention, coagulation function, treatment time at various stages, prognosis score, and treatment situation were compared between the two groups. The adverse reactions, intervention methods, and degree of cognitive improvement were influencing factors for hypothermia. The effective rate (92.50%) in the feedforward control group was higher than that in the non-feedforward control group (65.00%), with a lower incidence of adverse reactions (2.50%). The temperature management quality score of the feedforward control group (6.23±0.62) was higher. The feedforward control group achieved a higher quality score for temperature management (6.23±0.62) and exhibited a greater understanding of hypothermia prevention among trauma patients (P<0.05). Compared to the non-feedforward control group, the feedforward control group showed improved coagulation function, better performance in treatment time at each node, and higher prognosis scores. The intervention model based on feedforward control can effectively improve the standard of pre-hospital emergency care and prevent the incidence of hypothermia in trauma patients.

Does the type of mechanical chest compressor affect resuscitation outcome of out of hospital cardiac arrest patients? A propensity-score based comparison of three devices

Abstract Background Mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices are currently recommended when high-quality CPR could not be provided and only if used by trained rescuers. Guidelines are against their routinely use since clinical trials results are controversial, and solid evidence of improved survival are missing. Moreover, many studies compared these devices to very high-quality manual CPR, hardly replicable in a pre-hospital emergency setting. Nowadays, different machines are available but literature is poor in direct comparison studies. Purpose To assess whether the type of mechanical chest compressor could affect the probability of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and of 30-days mortality after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) as compared to manual standard CPR. Methods Data were prospectively collected from our Utstein-based cardiac arrest registry. We considered all OHCAs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022 from 7 provinces covered by the same regional emergency system (population covered 4.2mln. inhabitants) but equipped with three different types of mechanical compressor: Autopulse®; LUCAS® and Easy Pulse®. Patients treated with mechanical CPR and manual CPR were randomly matched via a multivariable logistic regression propensity score considering age, gender, witnessed OHCA, presence of bystander CPR, first rhythm recorded, EMS arrival time and lay defibrillation before EMS arrival. Logistic regression and COX regression models were performed and adjusted for resuscitation duration to investigate the association between the type of CPR and the probability of ROSC and of 30-day mortality. Results Among 13,203 OHCAs with attempted CPR, 10,497 (79.5%) received manual CPR and in 2,405 (18.2%) mechanical CPR [Easy Pulse® in 1,102(45.8%), Autopulse® in 776 (32.3%) and LUCAS® in 521 (21.7%)]. ROSC before hospital admission was obtained in 1,712 patients (13.0%) and 762 (5.8%) were alive after 30 days. After propensity score matching two homogeneous groups of 1,946 patients each (manual and mechanical CRP) were identified. The rate of ROSC and of 30-day survival were lower in the mechanical CPR group (ROSC: 14.7% vs 24.1%; p&amp;lt;0.001; 30-day survival 6% vs 14%; p&amp;lt;0.001). The three devices showed an independent association with the probability of ROSC as compared to manual CPR [Autopulse®: OR 1.76, 95% CI (1.36-2.28) p&amp;lt;0.001; LUCAS®:OR 1.55, 95% CI (1.13-2.13), p=0.006 and Easy Pulse®:OR 0.49; 95% CI (0.37-0.65), p&amp;lt;0.001] (Figure 1A). Only Autopulse® was independently associated with 30-day mortality [AutoPulse HR 0.87, 95%CI (0.79-0.97), p=0.01; LUCAS®: HR 1.00, 95%CI (0.88-1.14), p=0.97) and Easy Pulse®: HR: 1.06, 95%CI (0.97-1.16), p=0.19] (Figure 1B). Conclusions This is the first study comparing the performance of three devices for mechanical chest compressions revealing that they differently affect the probability of ROSC and of 30-day survival.

Do Experienced Nurses Benefit From Training on Bleeding Control in the Community Setting?

IntroductionNurses’ preparedness to provide hemorrhage control aid outside of the patient care setting has not been thoroughly evaluated. We evaluated nurses’ preparedness to provide hemorrhage control in the prehospital setting after a proof-of-concept training event. MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of evaluations from a voluntary hemorrhage control training offered to a group of experienced nurses. Education was provided by a nurse certified in Stop the Bleed training and using the Basic Bleeding Control 2.0 materials. The training lasted approximately 1 hour and included a didactic portion followed by hands-on practice with task trainer legs. Participants were surveyed after training to assess their preparedness to provide hemorrhage control aid using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree); comments and feedback were also requested. Mean (SD) was used to analyze Likert scale data. Content analysis was performed to identify common themes in qualitative data. ResultsForty-five experienced nurses participated in the voluntary training. Nursing experience included obstetrics, pediatrics, critical care, acute care, community health, and psychiatric/mental health. Only 39% of participants reported having previously completed a similar course. After training completion, participants reported an increase in their preparedness to provide hemorrhage control aid (mean 3.47 [SD = 1.40] vs mean 4.8 SD [.04], P < .01). Major themes identified included wanting to feel prepared to help others, refreshing skills, and knowing how to respond in an emergency. DiscussionRegardless of background and experience, nurses may benefit from more advanced hemorrhage control education to prepare them to provide aid in prehospital emergency settings.

Introduction of Telemedicine in a Prehospital Emergency Care Setting: A Pilot Study.

Advances in information and communication technology have led to telemedicine applications that could support paramedics in the prehospital field. In an effort to optimise the available resources like prehospital emergency physicians (PHP), the State Health Services of a Swiss state decided to launch a pilot study on the feasibility of using telemedicine in the prehospital emergency setting. The primary objective was to measure the number of missions completed without technical problems with remote PHP support through telemedicine (tele-PHP). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the safety of this protocol and to describe the actions and decisions that clinicians can make by using tele-PHP. This was a prospective observational pilot study on all missions involving the dispatch of ground PHP or tele-PHP. The severity score, dispatch criteria, actions, and decisions made by ground PHP and tele-PHP were collected. PHP were dispatched simultaneously with an ambulance on 478 occasions, including 68 (14%) situations that started directly with tele-PHP. Among those situations, three had to be transformed into on-site PHP missions after the on-site evaluation by paramedics. Fifteen missions were cancelled by paramedics once they were on site, and six missions encountered a connection issue. Forty-four PHP missions that were dispatched simultaneously with paramedics were completed by tele-PHP only without any connection problems. Paramedics and PHP estimated that actions or decisions were provided by PHP in 66% of the on-site PHP missions and 34% of the tele-PHP missions. This is the first experience of tele-PHP regarding PHP dispatch in Switzerland. Despite the small number of missions carried out, tele-PHP could be used for well-selected situations to reduce the need for a PHP on site.

Second Victims among German Emergency Medical Services Physicians (SeViD-III-Study)

Patient care in the prehospital emergency setting is error-prone. Wu's publications on the second victim syndrome made very clear that medical errors may lead to severe emotional injury on the caregiver's part. So far, little is known about the extent of the problem within the field of prehospital emergency care. Our study aimed at identifying the prevalence of the Second Victim Phenomenon among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) physicians in Germany. Web-based distribution of the SeViD questionnaire among n = 12.000 members of the German Prehospital Emergency Physician Association (BAND) to assess general experience, symptoms and support strategies associated with the Second Victim Phenomenon. In total, 401 participants fully completed the survey, 69.1% were male and the majority (91.2%) were board-certified in prehospital emergency medicine. The median length of experience in this field of medicine was 11 years. Out of 401 participants, 213 (53.1%) had experienced at least one second victim incident. Self-perceived time to full recovery was up to one month according to 57.7% (123) and more than one month to 31.0% (66) of the participants. A total of 11.3% (24) had not fully recovered by the time of the survey. Overall, 12-month prevalence was 13.7% (55/401). The COVID-19 pandemic had little effect on SVP prevalence within this specific sample. Our data indicate that the Second Victim Phenomenon is very frequent among prehospital emergency physicians in Germany. However, four out of ten caregivers affected did not seek or receive any assistance in coping with this stressful situation. One out of nine respondents had not yet fully recovered by the time of the survey. Effective support networks, e.g., easy access to psychological and legal counseling as well as the opportunity to discuss ethical issues, are urgently required in order to prevent employees from further harm, to keep healthcare professionals from leaving this field of medical care and to maintain a high level of system safety and well-being of subsequent patients.

Nebulized Ketamine Used for Managing Ankle Fracture in the Prehospital Emergency Setting: A Case Report.

Acute traumatic limb injury is a common complaint of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Ketamine is an effective analgesic administered via intravenous (IV), intranasal (IN), intramuscular (IM), and nebulized routes in the ED. It has also been used in the prehospital setting via IV, IM, and IN routes. Recent studies have proposed the prehospital use of nebulized ketamine via breath-actuated nebulizer (BAN) as a noninvasive and effective method of analgesic delivery, as well as an alternative to opioid analgesia. We present a case of a patient with right ankle fracture after a 12-foot fall who subsequently received 0.75 milligrams per kilogram of nebulized ketamine via BAN in the prehospital setting. The patient reported improvement of pain from 8/10 to 3/10 on the pain scale without need for additional pain medication during prehospital transport. This report supports the use of nebulized ketamine via BAN in the prehospital setting for acute traumatic limb injuries. The use of nebulized ketamine via BAN in the prehospital setting may be an effective analgesic option for the management of patients with acute traumatic limb injuries, particularly in those with difficult IV access, where mucosal atomization devices are not accessible, or where opioid-sparing treatments are preferable.

Prehospital point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)

Prehospital point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a requirement for the treatment of critically ill patients. It is an essential component for physicians not only in hospital settings but also in prehospital settings. Recent technical progress has helped POCUS to be integrated into various prehospital emergency settings (Hermann et al. 2022). Prehospital care refers to the emergency medical care setting at any scene of a catastrophe. Evaluation of the situation and the medical resources needed will be determined by the emergency medical services (EMS) (Tjelmeland et al. 2020). There has been a great evolvement in the use of ultrasound in prehospital settings due to the growing evidence-based support and various technological advances. It is possible to identify life-threatening disorders if the POCUS and ultrasound examination are correctly performed

Drill; A Solution to Reduce Mistriage in Prehospital Emergency Setting

Background: Triage is used as one of the main concepts in the emergency medicine to differentiate between critically ill patients or patients in a non-emergency situation. Miss-triage occurs if the prioritization of patients or injured is not done correctly for any reason. Miss-triage occurs in two forms of over and under triage. According to studies, the incidence of miss-triage is high worldwide. Exercising is one of the ways to reduce the amount of miss-triage. Objectives:. This two-group pretest post-test intervention study aimed to investigate the effect of drilling on the miss-triage of emergency medical service personnel. Methods: The tools used in this study included: demographic information form questionnaire, Triage Decision Making Inventory (TDMI), and designed START/jump START triage scenarios. After collecting the required data, these data were analyzed by appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, including mean and standard deviation, independent t-test, paired t-test, K-square. Results: Results showed that the Miss-triage rate decreased from (34.1%) before the intervention to (9.1%) after the intervention in the experimental group. Moreover, after drill, the score of triage decision-making power increased from (121) to (136.91). However, in the control group, no statistically significant change was observed in the amount of miss-triage and triage decision-making power in emergency medical service personnel at the end of the study (p&gt;.05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study revealed the effectiveness of this exercise method in reducing miss-triage in participants. Thus, this method could be used in emergency medical service personnel training and preparation programs.

Pain Management in a Prehospital Emergency Setting: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Acute pain is a prevalent symptomatology in prehospital emergency care. Although inadequate assessment and treatment of acute pain are associated with various complications, about 43% of adults suffering from pain are undertreated. This phenomenon is poorly studied, and limited data are available in the literature. The objective was to investigate the pain management in a prehospital emergency health-care setting, verifying pain assessment, pharmacological treatment adherence and the effectiveness of pain relief therapy. A retrospective observational study was conducted in a sample including all adults treated by the professionals of nurse-staffed ambulances and medical cars in an Italian Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from 1 January 2019 to 31 May 2019. We collected both demographic information and Numeric Rating Scale scores, which evaluated presence and intensity of pain, from the EMS paper forms. All analyses were performed using SPSS, version 27. The study sample was composed of 629 people: 310 males (49%) and 319 females (51%), with an average age of 64.2±22 years (range 18-108). Pain information was collected in 75.5% (n = 475) of our sample; among them 222 patients (46.7%) suffered from pain. We recorded that 79.7% (n = 177) of the subjects with pain received no pharmacological treatment, and in almost all of the treated cases they did not adhere to the analgesia algorithm in use. Among those who were pharmacologically treated, pain statistically significantly decreased in intensity, from before to after, in both emergency vehicles (nurse-staffed ambulances pre m = 8.36±0.9 vs post m = 4.18±2.2, p<0.001; medical cars pre m = 7.25±1.7 vs post m = 3.50±2.6, p<0.001). Subsequently, pain was only re-ascertained in 24.3% of subjects. Our findings confirm that pain is a prevalent symptom in prehospital patients, especially in the younger age range, but that it remains an underrecognized, underestimated, and undertreated symptom with the risk of causing worse health outcomes.

Invasive mechanical ventilation probability estimation using machine learning methods based on non-invasive parameters

ObjectivesTimely and accurate prediction of the requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) can reduce patient mortality. Existing methods (traditional risk adjustment algorithms, clinical observation, et.) use laboratory parameters requiring specialized biochemical analysis, which is difficult to obtain in the pre-hospital emergency setting and does not accurately predict the requirement for IMV. MethodsIn this study, 20 non-invasive parameters including patient demographic parameters, physiological parameters, Glasgow score and ventilator parameters, were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC III) database. A real-time early warning model of IMV requirement was developed using classical seven machine learning methods in different categories and compared with two traditional risk adjustment algorithms. ResultsThe prediction results using Lightgbm were 0.917 (95 %CI:0.914–0.922) for area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and 0.853 for accuracy (ACC) (95 %CI:0.850–0.856), outperforming the traditional risk adjustment algorithm, which were 0.615 and 0.533 respectively. The addition of invasive parameters increased the AUC value of the model by 0.009. ConclusionsA real-time early warning algorithm was developed in this paper for IMV requirement based on non-invasive parameters using seven learning methods, which proved to be superior to the traditional risk adjustment algorithm. Using real-time clinical data, the proposed algorithm can calculate current and future requirement for IMV requirement at any point in time during the stay of a patient in the ICU. Finally, it provides technical support for a wide range of applications in remote areas and disaster sites, where invasive parameters are unavailable.

Ultrasound applied to nursing in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS): a scoping review

Abstract Background: In recent years, ultrasound has represented a new field of application for nursing. Point of Care UltraSound (POCUS) has been defined as an essential skill in the pre-hospital setting. The primary objective of this scoping review is to describe what are the main ultrasound techniques applied by nurses in the pre-hospital emergency setting. The secondary objective is to identify the different training courses implemented in the various studies selected to learn the necessary ultrasound skills. Methods: We conducted a scoping review. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Google Scholar. For the extraction of useful articles, after identifying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the PRISMA methodology was used, two authors independently analyzed the identified records, in the event of a conflict a third author intervened. Results: The identified records were initially 815. After the duplicates removal, and screening made by the researcher for inclusion criteria, 6 articles were retrieved for qualitative analysis. The most discussed topic is the recognition of pneumothorax: two studies analyzed a specific educational program on ultrasound for flight nurses, three articles evaluated the us of US to verify the correct insertion of devices, and two explored the skills of nurses in performing ultrasound scans. The first study stated that nurses had 86.4% accuracy, 66.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity in ultrasound using; in the second one, nurses had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% in non-traumatized patients and a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 93% in trauma patients. Conclusions: Despite the methodological differences of the selected records, the main ultrasound techniques implemented by nurses in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) are Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST), Extendend Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (E-FAST), evaluation of pneumothorax and visualization of correct insertion of devices (Endotracheal Tube, Nasogastric Tube). At the level of training in the ultrasound field, on the other hand, a certain heterogeneity is highlighted in the structuring of training courses, both in terms of hours of theory and of controlled practice.

Non-Invasive Ventilation in the Prehospital Emergency Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction Noninvasive ventilation is a well-established treatment for acute respiratory failure, being increasingly applied in the prehospital setting. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate whether early prehospital initiation of noninvasive ventilation reduces mortality compared to standard oxygen therapy. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to February 7th, 2022, for studies comparing prehospital noninvasive ventilation performed by emergency medical services versus standard oxygen therapy in patients with acute respiratory failure. The primary outcome was mortality at the longest follow-up available. Results We included ten randomized studies and two quasi-randomized studies for a total of 1485 patients. Prehospital treatment with noninvasive ventilation compared with standard oxygen therapy did not significantly reduce mortality at the longest follow-up available (107/810 [13%] vs 114/772 [15%]; RR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.70–1.13; P = 0.34; I2=24%). The endotracheal intubation rate was reduced when receiving prehospital noninvasive ventilation (38/776 [4.9%] vs 81/743 [11%]; RR = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.31–0.63; P < 0.001; I2=0%; number needed to treat 17). The intensive care admission rate (114/532 [21%] vs 129/507 [25%]; RR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.69–1.04; P = 0.11; I2=0%) and length of hospital stay (mean difference=-1.29 days; 95% CI, −3.35–0.77; P = 0.21; I2=82%) were similar between groups. Conclusions Adults with acute respiratory failure treated in the prehospital setting with noninvasive ventilation had a lower risk of intubation than those managed with standard oxygen therapy, with similar risk of death, intensive care admission, and length of hospital stay. Review registration PROSPERO CRD42021284947

Predictors for Prehospital First-Pass Intubation Success in Germany.

(1) Background: Endotracheal intubation in the prehospital setting is an important skill for emergency physicians, paramedics, and other members of the EMS providing airway management. Its success determines complications and patient mortality. The aim of this study was to find predictors for first-pass intubation success in the prehospital emergency setting. (2) The study was based on a retrospective analysis of a population-based registry of prehospital advanced airway management in Germany. Cases of endotracheal intubation by the emergency medical services in the cities of Tübingen and Jena between 2016 and 2019 were included. The outcome of interest was first-pass intubation success. Univariate and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyse the influence of predefined predictors, including the characteristics of patients, the intubating staff, and the clinical situation. (3) Results: A total of 308 patients were analysed. After adjustment for multiple confounders, the direct vocal cord view, a less favourable Cormack–Lehane classification, the general practitioner as medical specialty, and location and type of EMS were independent predictors for first-pass intubation success. (4) Conclusions: In physician-led emergency medical services, the laryngoscopic view, medical specialty, type of EMS, and career level are associated with FPS. The latter points towards the importance of experience and regular training in endotracheal intubation.

Non-medical prescribing by paramedics in emergency, urgent and critical care

This article considers some of the unique considerations and challenges that are associated with non-medical prescribing in the context of paramedic emergency care. In contrast to primary care, advanced paramedics practicing in emergency settings are more likely to encounter patients who require an immediate supply or administration of medication and access to a range of controlled drugs. Furthermore, access to medical support for prescribing decision-making, restrictions on the prescribing of controlled drugs and potential challenges in obtaining access to patient records, may also impact non-medical prescribing in these settings. Currently, very little empirical evidence has been published on the topic of non-medical prescribing in paramedic practice. Further research is required to understand whether the anticipated benefits are being realised for patients and NHS services. This is particularly the case in the context of prehospital emergency, urgent and critical care settings.

Pre-hospital critical care management of severe hypoxemia in victims of Covid-19: a case series

ObjectiveDespite critical hypoxemia, Covid-19 patients may present without proportional signs of respiratory distress. We report three patients with critical respiratory failure due to Covid-19, in which all presented with severe hypoxemia refractory to supplemental oxygen therapy. We discuss possible strategies for ventilatory support in the emergency pre-hospital setting, and point out some pitfalls regarding the management of these patients. Guidelines for pre-hospital care of critically ill Covid-19 patients cannot be established based on the current evidence base, and we have to apply our understanding of respiratory physiology and mechanics in order to optimize respiratory support.MethodsThree cases with similar clinical presentation were identified within the Norwegian national helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) system. The HEMS units are manned by a consultant anaesthesiologist.Patient’s next of kin and the Regional committee for medical and health research ethics approved the publication of this report.ConclusionPatients with Covid-19 and severe hypoxemia may pose a considerable challenge for the pre-hospital emergency medical services. Intubation may be associated with a high risk of complications in these patients and should be carried out with diligence when considered necessary. The following interventions are worth considering in Covid-19 patients with refractory hypoxemia before proceeding to intubation. First, administering oxygen via a tight fitting BVM with an oxygen flow rate that exceeds the patient’s ventilatory minute volume. Second, applying continuous positive airway pressure, while simultaneously maintaining a high FiO2. Finally, assuming the patient is cooperative, repositioning to prone position.

Decision Support Capabilities of Telemedicine in Emergency Prehospital Care: Systematic Review.

BackgroundTelemedicine offers a unique opportunity to improve coordination and administration for urgent patient care remotely. In an emergency setting, it has been used to support first responders by providing telephone or video consultation with specialists at hospitals and through the exchange of prehospital patient information. This technological solution is evolving rapidly, yet there is a concern that it is being implemented without a demonstrated clinical need and effectiveness as well as without a thorough economic evaluation.ObjectiveOur objective is to systematically review whether the clinical outcomes achieved, as reported in the literature, favor telemedicine decision support for medical interventions during prehospital care.MethodsThis systematic review included peer-reviewed journal articles. Searches of 7 databases and relevant reviews were conducted. Eligibility criteria consisted of studies that covered telemedicine as data- and information-sharing and two-way teleconsultation platforms, with the objective of supporting medical decisions (eg, diagnosis, treatment, and receiving hospital decision) in a prehospital emergency setting. Simulation studies and studies that included pediatric populations were excluded. The procedures in this review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies–of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for the assessment of risk of bias. The results were synthesized based on predefined aspects of medical decisions that are made in a prehospital setting, which include diagnostic decision support, receiving facility decisions, and medical directions for treatment. All data extractions were done by at least two reviewers independently.ResultsOut of 42 full-text reviews, 7 were found eligible. Diagnostic support and medical direction and decision for treatments were often reported. A key finding of this review was the high agreement between prehospital diagnoses via telemedicine and final in-hospital diagnoses, as supported by quantitative evidence. However, a majority of the articles described the clinical value of having access to remote experts without robust quantitative data. Most telemedicine solutions were evaluated within a feasibility or short-term preliminary study. In general, the results were positive for telemedicine use; however, biases, due to preintervention confounding factors and a lack of documentation on quality assurance and protocol for telemedicine activation, make it difficult to determine the direct effect on patient outcomes.ConclusionsThe information-sharing capacity of telemedicine enables access to remote experts to support medical decision making on scene or in prolonged field care. The influence of human and technology factors on patient care is poorly understood and documented.

Feasibility of CardioSecur®, a Mobile 4-Electrode/22-Lead ECG Device, in the Prehospital Emergency Setting

Background: This study explores the application of CardioSecur® (CS-ECG), a hand-held 4-electrode/22-lead ECG-device, in comparison with conventional 12-lead electrocardiogram (c12L-ECG) in patients with acute chest pain in the prehospital emergency setting.Methods: CS-ECG systems were provided for two physician-staffed emergency ambulances and parallel recordings of c12L-ECG and CS-ECG were obtained from all patients with acute chest pain. Treating emergency physicians were asked to evaluate the CS-ECG system with a standardized questionnaire. Following study completion, acquired ECGs were analyzed separately by two independent cardiologists blinded to all other medical records.Results: Over a period of 20 months a total of 203 patients were included in our study. According to a standardized questionnaire, 79% of emergency medical professionals preferred application of CS-ECG, with 87% of teams judging CS-ECG to be beneficial for patients. Morover, 79% of physicians reported a reduction in time to definitive diagnosis with implementation of CS-ECG. The majority of professional users attested user-friendliness and feasibility of CS-ECG in terms of easy general handling (94%), application (93%), and placement of electrodes (98%). During prehospital triage, both c12L-ECG and CS-ECG correctly identified 31 (91%) patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Conclusion: In this first pilot study, implementation of the CardioSecur®-ECG system in the prehospital emergency setting demonstrated feasibility and user-friendliness so that emergency teams generally preferred CS-ECG to c12L-ECG. Diagnostic yield of CS-ECG was similar to c12L-ECG recordings.

A natural polymer-based porous sponge with capillary-mimicking microchannels for rapid hemostasis

Natural polymer materials have attracted great attention in the field of hemostasis because of their wide range of source, nontoxicity, hydrophilicity, and air permeability. In the present study, two natural polymers composed of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMCNa) plus γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) propytrimethoxysilane (KH560) that serves as a crosslinking agent were selected to synthesize a capillary-mimicking composite hemostatic (CCK) sponge with a low density, interconnected microchannel architecture, suitable mechanical strength, high resilience, and ultrastrong liquid absorption capacity. The introduction of a large number of hydrophilic carboxymethyl functional groups and the design of capillary-mimicking structures formed by the ice segregation-induced self-assembly (ISISA) process endowed the CCK sponges with an ultrastrong liquid absorption capacity, which significantly enhanced the hemostatic ability of the materials. Both in vivo and in vitro hemostatic experiments confirmed the potential of the CCK sponges to achieve rapid hemostasis. Additionally, cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays showed that the CCK sponges exhibited good biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The possible hemostatic mechanism was also discussed in this study. In conclusion, the capillary-mimicking hemostatic sponge exhibits a high potential to induce rapid hemostasis in prehospital emergency and clinical settings. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In the present study, an oriented composite hemostatic (CCK) sponge with a capillary-mimicking structure formed by the ice segregation-induced self-assembly (ISISA) process was designed and used to achieve rapid hemostasis. The unique aligned microchannel structure of the sponge exhibited an ultrastrong capillary-mimicking action and endowed the prepared CCK hemostatic sponge with a strong liquid absorption capacity. By changing the proportion of raw materials, we could modify the unique capillary-mimicking structure with aligned microchannels. Two natural polymer-based materials with abundant hydrophilic groups were chosen to prepare the CCK sponge to fully utilize the characteristics of this structure. The oriented natural polymer-based porous sponge with capillary-mimicking microchannels exhibited a strong hemostatic ability in both in vivo and in vitro tests. The results showed that the CCK sponge with the capillary-mimicking structure has a high potential to achieve rapid hemostasis.