Prehospital Environment Research Articles

Ketamine Use in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic increasingly used in the prehospital and battlefield environment. As an analgesic, it has been shown to have comparable effects to opioids. In 2012, the Defense Health Board advised the Joint Trauma System to update the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Guidelines to include ketamine as an acceptable first line agent for pain control on the battlefield. The goal of this study was to investigate trends in the use of ketamine during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) during the years 2011-2016. A retrospective review of Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DoDTR) data was performed for all patients receiving ketamine during OEF/OFS in 2011-2016. Prevalence of ketamine use, absolute use, mechanism of injury, demographics, injury severity score, provider type, and co-administration rates of various medications and blood products were evaluated. Total number of administrations during the study period was 866. Ketamine administration during OEF/OFS increased during the years 2011-2013 (28 patient administrations in 2011, 264 administrations in 2012, and 389 administrations in 2013). A decline in absolute use was noted from 2014 to 2016 (98 administrations in 2014, 41 administrations in 2015, and 46 administrations in 2016). The frequency of battlefield ketamine use increased from 0.4% to 11.3% for combat injuries sustained in OEF/OFS from 2011 to 2016. Explosives (51%) and penetrating trauma (39%) were the most common pattern of injury in which ketamine was administered. Ketamine was co-administered with fentanyl (34.4%), morphine (26.2%), midazolam (23.1%), tranexamic acid (12.3%), plasma (10.3%), and packed red blood cells (18.5%). This study demonstrates increasing use of ketamine by the U.S. Military on the battlefield and effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines in influencing practice patterns.

Comparison of Hyperangulated and Standard Geometry Video Laryngoscopy Tracheal Intubation for Prehospital Care in a Manikin: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of hyperangulated video laryngoscopy (HAVL) versus standard geometry video laryngoscopy (SGVL) in the simulated prehospital environment using a manikin. There is consensus that video laryngoscopy (VL) can be very useful in the emergency department when difficult intubations are predicted. Emergency medical service (EMS) providers are also often faced with difficult, rapidly deteriorating airway management situations that not only involve patient and operator factors but also include challenging unique environmental factors, such as nonoptimized positions in transport vehicles (eg, helicopters and ambulances) or at ground level or entrapped positions. To our knowledge, there has never been a study purposefully investigating the efficacy of hyperangulated geometry versus standard geometry VL techniques in the prehospital environment. MethodsA single-center, randomized controlled crossover trial was performed using attending physician helicopter EMS providers. Physicians were randomized to perform 5 HAVL or SGVL intubations followed by the subsequent technique. Intubations were performed on ground level and then repeated in the helicopter with the first location also randomized. A manikin airway management trainer was used to simulate intubation in each environment. The time to intubation (primary outcome) as well as first-pass success and the Cormack-Lehane view were recorded for each attempt. Qualitative data were also obtained for physician preference and perceived difficulty. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the time to intubation with HAVL versus SGVL (ground: 15.02 vs. 14.88 seconds, P = .86; helicopter: 16.11 vs. 16.14 seconds, P = .93). First-pass success was 100% for both techniques in both scenarios. More Grade 1 views were obtained with HAVL (147/150 vs. 134/150). Moreover, most physicians preferred HAVL overall and felt that HAVL required less force (9/15 grounded manikin and 10/15 helicopter manikin) and led to the best chance for first-pass success (11/15 grounded manikin and 10/15 helicopter manikin). ConclusionThe results of this study are limited because of the static and highly favorable anatomy of a manikin versus the variability and often difficult anatomy of individual patients. Our results suggest that both techniques are efficacious when the patient is both on the ground or in the helicopter, although provider preference does seem to vary.

Secondary Traumatic Stress in Emergency Services Systems (STRESS) Project: Quantifying and Predicting Compassion Fatigue in Emergency Medical Services Personnel

Introduction Compassion fatigue (CF) is defined as the acute or gradual loss of benevolence that occurs after exposure to critical incident stress. Colloquially referred to as the “cost of caring,” CF can affect an individual’s future response to stressful situations and is unhealthy for caregivers. Objective To identify the prevalence and predictors of CF in EMS professionals. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey of EMS personnel using one-stage area sampling. Nine EMS agencies recruited based on location and geographic region provided data on service area and call mix. Respondents were surveyed in-person during monthly training. The survey evaluated the relationship between CF and psychosocial factors using the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Parametric and non-parametric tests were used where appropriate for the univariate analysis. Those factors significant in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariable analysis. A logistic regression was conducted to determine predictors of CF while controlling for potential confounders. Results A total of 686 EMS personnel completed the survey. Altogether, 48% had CF, of which 50.8% were male and 14% were minorities. Compared to those without CF, more than 4 times as many respondents with CF (n = 28[8.6%] v. 7[2.0%]) self-reported as currently in counseling and over a third (n = 109[33.1%]) had considered suicide. Irrespective of the presence of CF, one in two knew another EMS professional who had completed suicide. African-American EMS professionals were 3 times more likely to have CF (OR:3.1;p = 0.009). Mean scores on the ProQOL CF subscale were 10 points higher in those with CF compared to those without (27.1[±4.34] v. 17.04[±2.9]). EMS personnel were 48% more likely to have CF if they knew an EMS provider who completed suicide (p = 0.047). Additionally, those with concomitant traumatic stress syndromes, such as vicarious trauma and burnout, were 4.61 and 3.35 times more likely to have CF, respectively. Conclusions CF is a considerable concern for EMS professionals and there are several modifiable factors that may reduce the prevalence of this cumulative stress syndrome. Additional research should focus on causal factors and mitigation strategies, as well as the individual and agency impact of CF on the prehospital work environment.

Resuscitative endovascular occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for refractory out of hospital cardiac arrest. An Utstein-based case series

AimsOut of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is still a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In recent years, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been progressively studied as an adjunct to standard advanced life support (ALS) in both traumatic and non-traumatic refractory OHCA.Since January 2019, the REBOA procedure has been applied to all the patients experiencing both traumatic and non-traumatic refractory OHCA (≥15 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation) not eligible for ECPR for clinical or logistic reasons.We aimed at describing the feasibility and effects of REBOA performed both in the Emergency Department and in the pre-hospital environment served by the local HEMS for refractory OHCA. MethodsTwenty consecutive patients experiencing refractory OHCA and in whom REBOA was attempted in 2019 and 2020 were included in the study, Utstein data and REBOA specific variables were recorded. ResultsSuccessful catheter placement was achieved in 18 out of 20 patients, 11 of these were non-traumatic OHCAs while 7 were traumatic OHCAs, the 2 failures were related to repeated arterial puncture failure.Median time between the EMS dispatch and REBOA catheter placing attempt was 46 min.An increase in etCO2 over 10 mmHg was observed after balloon inflation in 12 out of 18 patients (8/11 non-traumatic and 4/7 traumatic OHCAs), a sustained ROSC was observed in 5 patients (1 traumatic and 4 non-traumatic OHCA) that were subsequently admitted to the ICU. Four out of the 5 patients reached the criteria for brain death in the subsequent 24 h while one patient experienced another episode of refractory cardiac arrest in ICU and subsequently died. ConclusionOur data confirm the feasibility of REBOA technique as an adjunct to ALS in both the ED and prehospital phase and most of the treated patients experienced a transient ROSC after balloon inflation while 5 out of 18 experienced a sustained ROSC.However, while in the trauma setting increasing evidence suggests an improved survival when REBOA is applied to refractory OHCA, in non-traumatic OHCA this has yet to be demonstrated and large studies are needed.

Prehospital clopidogrel use and STEMI management: a review

Clopidogrel is an anticoagulant commonly used in the prehospital environment for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Some ambulance services have incorporated this into their treatment regimens; however, others hold a variety of alternative pharmacological interventions. This study examines and determine the pharmacological efficacy and safety of clopidogrel in the management of patients with STEMI and assess whether ambulance services should use the drug as part of standard practice. A literature review was conducted to identify articles relating to the administration of clopidogrel in the prehospital setting. Fourteen peer-reviewed journal articles and eight clinical practice guidelines from international ambulance services were included in this review. According to this review, clopidogrel has been deemed safe, effective and practical for widespread use in the prehospital environment for the management of STEMI. However, some disagreement has arisen over whether clopidogrel is a more favourable anticoagulant than ticagrelor and prasugrel. Anticoagulants such as clopidogrel should be strongly considered as a standard treatment regimen in the prehospital management of STEMI across international jurisdictions.

Pain management for casualties receiving lifesaving interventions in the prehospital scenario: Raising awareness of our human nature.

Lifesaving interventions (LSIs) are the hallmark of medical care in trauma casualties, reducing mortality and morbidity. Analgesia is another essential treatment, which has been shown to improve outcomes and decrease long-term complications. However, oligoanalgesia is common, and information regarding its relation to the performance of LSIs is scarce. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between the performance of LSIs and analgesia administration in the prehospital environment. A retrospective database-based study was performed, including all trauma casualties treated by Israeli Defense Forces physicians and paramedics during 2006 to 2017 and admitted to hospitals participating in the Israeli National Trauma Registry. Included LSIs were tourniquet application, administration of tranexamic acid and freeze-dried plasma, and administration of chest decompression. Casualties treated with endotracheal intubation or cricothyroidotomy were excluded. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, LSIs were associated with prehospital analgesia administration (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; confidence interval [CI], 2.56-5.08; p < 0.001). When assessing for the different LSIs, tourniquet application (OR, 2.83; CI, 1.89-4.27; p < 0.001) and tranexamic acid administration (OR, 4.307; CI, 2.42-8.04; p < 0.001) were associated with prehospital analgesia administration. A positive association exists between performance of LSIs and administration of analgesia in the prehospital environment. Possible explanations may include cognitive and emotional biases affecting casualty care providers. Retrospective study, level IV.

Paramedic-performed Prehospital Point-of-care Ultrasound for Patients with Undifferentiated Dyspnea: A Pilot Study.

IntroductionThoracic ultrasound is frequently used in the emergency department (ED) to determine the etiology of dyspnea, yet its use is not widespread in the prehospital setting. We sought to investigate the feasibility and diagnostic performance of paramedic acquisition and assessment of thoracic ultrasound images in the prehospital environment, specifically for the detection of B-lines in congestive heart failure (CHF).MethodsThis was a prospective observational study of a convenience sample of adult patients with a chief complaint of dyspnea. Paramedics participated in a didactic and hands-on session instructing them how to use a portable ultrasound device. Paramedics assessed patients for the presence of B-lines. Sensitivity and specificity for the presence of bilateral B-lines and any B-lines were calculated based on discharge diagnosis. Clips archived to the ultrasound units were reviewed and paramedic interpretations were compared to expert sonologist interpretations.ResultsA total of 63 paramedics completed both didactic and hands-on training, and 22 performed ultrasounds in the field. There were 65 patients with B-line findings recorded and a discharge diagnosis for analysis. The presence of bilateral B-lines for diagnosis of CHF yielded a sensitivity of 80.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51.4–94.7%) and specificity of 72.0% (95% CI, 57.3–83.3), while presence of any B-lines was 93.3% sensitive (95% CI, 66.0–99.7%), and 50% specific (95% CI, 35.7–64.2%) for CHF. Paramedics archived 117 ultrasound clips of which 63% were determined to be adequate for interpretation. Comparison of paramedic and expert sonologist interpretation of images showed good inter-rater agreement for detection of any B-lines (k = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.36–0.84).ConclusionThis observational pilot study suggests that prehospital lung ultrasound for B-lines may aid in identifying or excluding CHF as a cause of dyspnea. The presence of bilateral B-lines as determined by paramedics is reasonably sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of CHF and pulmonary edema, while the absence of B lines is likely to exclude significant decompensated heart failure. The study was limited by being a convenience sample and highlighted some of the difficulties related to prehospital research. Larger funded trials will be needed to provide more definitive data.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to hanging: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundThere has been little research into the prehospital management of cardiac arrest following hanging despite it being among the most prevalent methods of suicide worldwide. The aim of this study...

Assessing the effectiveness of ketorolac in pain management of traumatic injuries in prehospital emergency care services

Objective: Pain is usually one of the most common symptoms among all traumatic injuries. One of the drugs that has recently entered the Iranian prehospital emergency system is ketorolac. Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits prostaglandin synthesis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase activity and reduces pain and inflammation. It can be considered as the strongest analgesic drug in this category. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ketorolac in pain management of traumatic injuries in a prehospital setting. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment method in the pain management of traumatic injuries in the prehospital environment of Lorestan province in Iran. We included 134 injured patients from road emergency bases of Lorestan province. In order to control the pain of these injured patients, 30 mg of ketorolac was injected slowly intravenously in one minute. Pain was measured in the time interval of zero minutes (before injection), 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes by visual acuity scale (VAS). The analysis of the obtained data was performed by SPSS software version 23. Results: The mean age of participants was 37.42±23.6. There were 47 female injuries (35.1%) and 87 male injuries (64.9%). In terms of pain intensity, 49 patients (36.6%) had moderate pain (VAS=4-6) and 85 patients (63.4%) had severe pain (VAS=7-10). The average of pain relief in the injured group with severe and moderate pain 15 minutes after the injection was 0.471 and 0.878 (P=0.001), respectively. In addition, the mean of pain relief in the injured group with severe and moderate pain 30 minutes after the injection was 1.124 and 1.796, respectively (P=0.001). Pain reduction in the group of severely injured patients with moderate pain in the first 30 minutes was statistically significant. Conclusion: Findings revealed that ketorolac is a suitable drug in pain management for trauma patients with moderate and severe pain in trauma patients. On the other hand, due to the peak effect (more than 30 minutes), it is not an effective drug for trauma patients with severe pain in a short period transferred to the prehospital environment.

The EMS Modified Early Warning Score (EMEWS): A Simple Count of Vital Signs as a Predictor of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests

Objective: For patients at risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) after Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrival, outcomes may be mitigated by identifying impending arrests and intervening before they occur. Tools such as the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) have been developed to determine the risk of arrest, but involve relatively complicated algorithms that can be impractical to compute in the prehospital environment. A simple count of abnormal vital signs, the "EMS Modified Early Warning Score" (EMEWS), may represent a more practical alternative. We sought to compare to the ability of MEWS and EMEWS to identify patients at risk for EMS-witnessed OHCA. Methods: We conducted a retrospect analysis of the 2018 ESO Data Collaborative database of EMS encounters. Patients without cardiac arrest before EMS arrival were categorized into those who did or did not have an EMS-witnessed arrest. MEWS was evaluated without its temperature component (MEWS-T). The performance of MEWS-T and EMEWS in predicting EMS witnessed arrest was evaluated by comparing receiver-operating characteristic curves. Results: Of 369,064 included encounters, 4,651 were EMS witnessed arrests. MEWS-T demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.79 − 0.80), with 86.8% sensitivity and 51.0% specificity for MEWS-T ≥ 3. EMEWS demonstrated an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.73 − 0.75), with 81.3% sensitivity and 53.9% specificity for EMEWS ≥ 2. Conclusions: EMEWS showed a similar ability to predict EMS-witnessed cardiac arrest compared to MEWS-T, despite being significantly simpler to compute. Further study is needed to evaluate whether the implementation of EMEWS can aid EMS clinicians in anticipating and preventing OHCA.

Cuidados de enfermagem ao paciente pós-parada cardiorrespiratória: Uma revisão integrativa

Objetivos: identificar os cuidados de enfermagem após a reanimação da PCR; produzir um quadro de síntese sobre os principais cuidados de enfermagem. Metodologia: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura realizada nas bases de dados LILASCS, MEDLINE e BDENF. O recorte temporal envolveu os artigos publicados nos últimos cinco anos. Como critério de inclusão teve-se: artigos que tratam da temática parada cardiorrespiratória nos serviços de emergência, centro de terapia intensiva e unidade semi intensiva. Como critério de exclusão deu-se os artigos que abordam a parada cardiorrespiratória no ambiente pré-hospitalar móvel. Resultados: o cuidado com a hipotermia preventiva, o registro dos cuidados prestados, controle rigoroso dos sinais vitais e a avaliação do distúrbio metabólico configuram-se como cuidados fundamentais prestados pelos enfermeiros. O quadro informativo caracterizou os cuidados de enfermagem frente ao paciente em parada cardiorrespiratória, como fonte de consulta. Conclusão: os cuidados fundamentais de enfermagem ao paciente em parada cardiorrespiratória foram expostos nesta pesquisa. O quadro informativo configura-se como fonte de consulta que irá nortear os cuidados de enfermagem ao paciente pós parada cardiorrespiratória.

Doctors', nurses' and clinical associates' understanding of emergency care practitioners.

BackgroundHealthcare professionals’ understanding of the knowledge, skills and training of their counterparts from other disciplines cultivates appreciation and respect within the workplace. This, in turn, results in better teamwork and improved patient care. Emergency departments are places where emergency care practitioners (ECPs) engage with doctors, nurses and clinical associates. Whilst the importance of inter-professional communication and teamwork between in-hospital professionals and pre-hospital emergency care providers is acknowledged, no literature could be found describing exactly how much these in-hospital professionals understand about the training and capabilities of their ECP colleagues.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the level of understanding that prospective doctors, nurses and clinical associates have regarding the training and capabilities of ECPs.SettingThe research was conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa, at two universities.MethodsSeventy-seven participants completed a purpose-designed questionnaire assessing their understanding regarding the education and clinical capabilities of ECPs.ResultsIn total, 64% of participants demonstrated a poor understanding of the level of education and clinical capabilities of ECPs. The remaining 36% showed only moderate levels of understanding.ConclusionMedical, nursing and clinical associate graduates have a generally poor understanding of the education and clinical capabilities of their ECP colleagues who practise predominantly in the pre-hospital environment. This lack of understanding can become a barrier to effective communication between ECPs and in-hospital staff during patient handover in emergency departments.ContributionThis research highlights a lack of understanding about the role and function of South African ECPs as pre-hospital emergency care providers and the need for more effective inter-professional education.

Appropriateness of oral clopidogrel for prehospital STEMI management

Introduction: Clopidogrel is an anticoagulant commonly used in the prehospital environment for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Some ambulance services have incorporated this into their treatment regimens; however, others hold a variety of alternative pharmacological interventions. Aims: The purpose of this study is to examine and determine the pharmacological efficacy and safety of clopidogrel in the management of patients with STEMI and assess whether ambulance services should use the drug as part of standard practice. Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify articles relating to the administration of clopidogrel in the prehospital setting. Fourteen peer-reviewed journal articles and eight clinical practice guidelines from international ambulance services were included in this review. Results: According to this literature review, clopidogrel has been deemed safe, effective and practical for widespread use in the prehospital environment for the management of STEMI. However, some disagreement has arisen over whether clopidogrel is a more favourable anticoagulant than ticagrelor and prasugrel. Conclusion: Anticoagulants such as clopidogrel should be strongly considered as a standard treatment regimen in the prehospital management of STEMI across international jurisdictions.

Dealing with bereaved children: a case study.

Introduction:A personal reflection on managing bereaved children (BC) following unexpected death of a parent.Questions:What evidence is available to assist ambulance clinicians when supporting BC?Methods:A literature search on BC in pre-hospital environments was undertaken.Results:Paucity of literature necessitated search expansion beyond pre-hospital/ambulance focus, and use of supplementary sources of credible information from registered bereavement charities and help groups.Conclusion:More research is needed to better support this vulnerable, unique demographic. It is hoped that this article will encourage further discussion and research into this topic.

Age-related laryngoscopic visual acuity.

BackgroundEndotracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy is a mainstay of advanced airway management performed both in the prehospital environment and in the Emergency Department. Many factors may affect the quality of view during direct laryngoscopy, one of them being the visual acuity (VA) of the intubator under these demanding conditions. While some individual variation in VA is to be expected in younger populations, VA naturally deteriorates in older populations particularly beyond the age of 40 years. This study aimed to describe VA in a younger (n=19) and an older (≥40 years of age, n=20) cohort of intubators at baseline and during simulated adult laryngoscopy, and to compare VA between these two age cohorts.MethodsA baseline near VA test was done using a Sloan Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (EDTRS) near vision chart at 40 cm under ambient indoor light. Participants in both age cohorts were then requested to perform laryngoscopy using an airway simulator at 40 cm viewing distance and again at a viewing distance of their choice. Both binocular and monocular VA were tested using a near VA chart placed anterior to the vocal cords of the airway trainer. VA was quantified using the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Differences in VA between age cohorts were assessed using independent samples t-tests and differences within age cohorts were assessed using paired samples t-tests.ResultsBinocular and monocular near VA was significantly reduced in the older cohort compared to the younger cohort at baseline (both eyes −0.129 logMAR; p = 0.04, right eye −0.147 logMAR; p = 0.005, left eye −0.197 logMAR; p = 0.002). Within each age cohort VA was significantly reduced during laryngoscopy at a fixed viewing distance (younger; both eyes −0.111 logMAR; p < 0.001, right eye −0.095 logMAR; p < 0.001, left eye −0.105 logMAR; p < 0.001; older; both eyes −0,08 logMAR; p < 0.001, right eye −0.110 logMAR; p < 0.001, left eye −0.065 logMAR; p = 0.01) but this was improved by reducing viewing distance.ConclusionIncreased age was associated with a significant reduction in VA at baseline and during laryngoscopy, which can be partially compensated for by adjusting viewing distance. Although it is currently unknown to what extent this age-related reduction of VA might negatively affect time to place an endotracheal tube or success of placement under direct vision, older intubators should be aware of this effect and consider specialized corrective eyewear in order to maintain an adequate level of VA.

Impact of videolaryngoscopy introduction into prehospital emergency medicine practice: a quality improvement project

IntroductionAdvanced airway management is necessary in the prehospital environment and difficult airways occur more commonly in this setting. Failed intubation is closely associated with the most devastating complications of airway...

Novel intraperitoneal hemostasis device prolongs survival in a swine model of noncompressible abdominal hemorrhage.

Noncompressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH) of the abdomen is a challenge to rapidly control and treat in the prehospital and emergency department settings. In this pilot study, we developed a novel intraperitoneal hemostasis device (IPHD) prototype and evaluated its ability for slowing NCTH and prolonging survival in a porcine model of lethal abdominal multiorgan hemorrhage. Yorkshire male swine (N = 8) were instrumented under general anesthesia for monitoring of hemodynamics and blood sampling. Animals were subjected to a 30% controlled arterial hemorrhage followed by lacerating combinations of the liver, spleen, and kidney. The abdomen was closed and after 2 minutes of NCTH, and the IPHD was inserted into the peritoneal cavity via an introducer (n = 5). The balloon was inflated and maintained for 60 minutes. At 60 minutes postdeployment, the balloon was deflated and removed, and blood resuscitation was initiated followed by gauze packing for hemostasis. The remaining animals (n = 3) were used as controls and subjected to the same injury without intervention. All animals managed with IPHD intervention (5 of 5 swine) survived the duration of the intervention period (60 minutes), while all control animals (3 of 3 swine) died at a time range of 15 to 43 minutes following organ injury (p = 0.0042). Animals receiving IPHD remained hemodynamically stable with a mean arterial pressure range of 44.86 to 55.10 mm Hg and experienced increased cardiac output and decreased shock index after treatment. Controls experienced hemodynamic decline in all parameters until endpoints were met. Upon IPHD deflation and removal, all treated animals began to hemorrhage again and expired within 2 to 132 minutes despite packing. Our data show that the IPHD concept is capable of prolonging survival by temporarily stanching lethal NCTH of the abdomen. This device may be an effective temporary countermeasure to NCTH of the abdomen that could be deployed in the prehospital environment or as a bridge to more advanced therapy.

Operationalizing the Deployment of Low-Titer O-Positive Whole Blood Within a Regional Trauma System.

The implementation of a low-titer O+ whole blood (LTOWB) resuscitation algorithm, particularly in the prehospital environment, has several inherent challenges, including cost, limited and inconsistent supply, and the logistics of cold-chain management. The Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council has implemented the nation's first multidisciplinary, multi-institutional regional LTOWB program. This research effort was to illustrate the successful deployment of LTOWB within a regional trauma system. A deliberate systems approach to the deployment of LTOWB was used. Tenets of this program included the active management of blood donor sources and blood supply levels to minimize wastage as a result of expiration, maximize product utilization, the use of prehospital transfusion triggers, and efforts to decrease program costs prehospital agencies. A novel LTOWB rotation system was established using the concept of a "rotation site" and "rotation center." Standardized transfusion criteria, a regional approved equipment list, a regional Prehospital Blood Product Transfusion Record, and a robust multilevel communication plan serves as the framework for the program. The San Antonio Whole Blood Consortium was developed to create a consensus driven forum to manage and guide the program. From January 2018 to October 2019, LTOWB has been placed at 18 helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) bases, 12 ground emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, 1 level I trauma center, and 1 level IV trauma center. A total of 450 patients have received a prehospital LTOWB transfusion. Program wide, the wastage rate of LTOWB due to expiration is between 1% and 2%. No complications related to prehospital LTOWB administration have been identified. This work demonstrates a novel model for the development of a trauma system LTOWB program. The program's implementation augments remote damage control resuscitation strategies and requires the integration and collaboration of a multidisciplinary stakeholder team to optimize efficiency, performance, and safety of the program.

Duration of exposure to a prehospital advanced airway and neurological outcome for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) studies have focused on the benefits and harms of placing an intra-arrest advanced airway, but few studies have evaluated the benefits and harms after successful placement. We hypothesize that increased time in the tumultuous prehospital environment after intra-arrest advanced airway placement results in reduced patient survival. MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of adult, non-traumatic, OHCA patients with an advanced airway placed in the PRIMED trial. The exposure variable was the time interval between successful advanced airway placement and Emergency Department (ED) arrival. The outcome was cerebral performance category (CPC) 1 or 2 at hospital discharge. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for Utstein variables and resuscitation-associated time intervals, was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR). ResultsThe cohort of complete cases included 4779 patients. The median time exposed to a prehospital advanced airway was 27 min (IQR 20–35). The total prehospital time was 39.4 min (IQR 32.3−48.1). An advanced airway was placed intra-arrest in 3830 cases (80.1%) and post-return of spontaneous circulation (post-ROSC) in 949 cases (19.9%). Overall, 486 (10.2%) of the cohort achieved the CPC outcome, but this was higher in the post-ROSC (21.7%) versus intra-arrest (7.5%) cohort. CPC was not associated with the time interval from advanced airway placement to ED arrival in the intra-arrest airway cohort (aOR 0.98, 95%CI 0.94−1.01). ConclusionsIn OHCA patients who receive an intra-arrest advanced airway, longer time intervals exposed to a prehospital advanced airway are not associated with reduced patient survival.

Inter-Rater Reliability of the FAST-ED in the Out-of-Hospital Setting

Introduction: Patients experiencing a large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) may require endovascular-capable centers and benefit from direct transport to such facilities, creating a need for an accurate prehospital assessment. The Field Assessment Stroke Triage for Emergency Destination (FAST-ED) is a secondary scale to identify LVOS. Currently, there is limited prospective evidence validating the use of the FAST-ED in the prehospital environment. This study aimed to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the FAST-ED between patient care providers in the prehospital setting. Methods: This prospective study was conducted between 4/1/2018 and 7/1/2018 in a single municipal EMS agency that staffs two providers per ambulance with at least one being a paramedic. Patients were included based on paramedic impression that the patient was both having a stroke and greater than 18 years old. Each provider independently performed and documented a FAST-ED assessment on eligible patients. Data analysis consisted of performing inter-rater reliability using Cohen’s Kappa on the FAST-ED score between primary and secondary providers. The FAST-ED was analyzed on an item level, an aggregate level (cumulative of all items), and using the defined cut point of ≥4. A sub-analysis determined if inter-rater reliability changed across provider certification. Results: There were 231 patients included in this analysis with an average age of 68.5 years and 135 (58.4%) female. Inter-rater reliability varied across individual items in the scale from 90.1% agreement to 82.5%. When analyzing inter-rater reliability of the aggregate FAST-ED score, the scale demonstrated 70.1% agreement (Kappa 0.66), considered substantial agreement. FAST-ED scores were analyzed using a cut point of ≥4. When using this cut point, there was 92.2% (Kappa 0.81) agreement between primary and secondary caregiver, demonstrating almost perfect agreement. Agreement was substantial across provider certifications including paramedics and EMTS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated high inter-rater reliability of the FAST-ED scale when performed in the prehospital setting on patients suspected of having a stroke. There were minimal differences in reliability based on provider certification, and item level analysis indicated substantial inter-rater reliability.