[On-scene times for helicopter services. Influence of central dispatch center strategy]

Parallel activation of helicopter and ground transportation after dispatcher identification of suspected anterior large vessel occlusion stroke in rural areas: a proof-of-concept case with modeling from the LESTOR trial

BACKGROUND

When stroke patients with suspected anterior large vessel occlusion (aLVO) happen to live in rural areas, two main options exist for prehospital transport: (i) the drip-and-ship (DnS) strategy, which ensures rapid access to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) at the nearest primary stroke center but requires time-consuming interhospital transfer for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) because the latter is only available at comprehensive stroke centers (CSC); and (ii) the mothership (MS) strategy, which entails direct transport to a CSC and allows for faster access to EVT but carries the risk of IVT being delayed or even the time window being missed completely. The use of a helicopter might shorten the transport time to the CSC in rural areas. However, if the aLVO stroke is only recognized by the emergency service on site, the helicopter must be requested in addition, which extends the prehospital time and partially negates the time advantage. We hypothesized that parallel activation of ground and helicopter transportation in case of aLVO suspicion by the dispatcher (aLVO-guided dispatch strategy) could shorten the prehospital time in rural areas and enable faster treatment with IVT and EVT.

METHODS

As a proof-of-concept, we report a case from the LESTOR trial where the dispatcher suspected an aLVO stroke during the emergency call and dispatched EMS and HEMS in parallel. Based on this case, we compare the provided aLVO-guided dispatch strategy to the DnS and MS strategies regarding the times to IVT and EVT using a highly realistic modeling approach.

RESULTS

With the aLVO-guided dispatch strategy, the patient received IVT and EVT faster than with the DnS or MS strategies. IVT was administered 6 min faster than in the DnS strategy and 22 min faster than in the MS strategy, and EVT was started 47 min earlier than in the DnS strategy and 22 min earlier than in the MS strategy.

CONCLUSION

In rural areas, parallel activation of ground and helicopter emergency services following dispatcher identification of stroke patients with suspected aLVO could provide rapid access to both IVT and EVT, thereby overcoming the limitations of the DnS and MS strategies.

Identification of Anterior Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke During the Emergency Call: Protocol for a Controlled, Nonrandomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Endovascular thrombectomy (ET), combined with intravenous thrombolysis if possible, is an effective treatment option for patients with stroke who have confirmed anterior large vessel occlusion (aLVO). However, ET is mainly limited to comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs), resulting in a lack of ET capacity in remote, sparsely populated areas. Most stroke networks use the "Drip and Ship" or "Mothership" strategy, resulting in either delayed ET or intravenous thrombolysis, respectively.

OBJECTIVE

This study protocol introduces the Leitstellen-Basierte Erkennung von Schlaganfall-Patienten für eine Thrombektomie und daraufhin abgestimmte Optimierung der Rettungskette (LESTOR) strategy, developed to optimize the preclinical part of the stroke chain of survival to improve the clinical outcome of patients with suspected aLVO stroke. This involves refining the dispatch strategy for identifying patients with acute aLVO stroke using a phone-based aLVO query. This includes dispatching emergency physicians and emergency medical services (EMS) to urban emergency sites, as well as dispatching helicopter EMS to remote areas. If a highly suspected aLVO is identified after a standardized aLVO score evaluation during a structured examination at the emergency scene, prompt transport to a CSC should be prioritized.

METHODS

The LESTOR study is a controlled, nonrandomized study implementing the LESTOR strategy, with a stepped-wedge, cluster trial design in 6 districts in southwest Germany. In an interprofessional, iterative approach, an aLVO query or dispatch protocol intended for use by dispatchers, followed by a coordinated aLVO examination score for use by EMS, is being developed, evaluated, and pretested in a simulation study. After the training of all participating health care professionals with the corresponding final aLVO query, the LESTOR strategy is being implemented stepwise. Patients otherwise receive usual stroke care in both the control and intervention groups. The primary outcome is the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days in patients with stroke receiving endovascular treatment. We will use a generalized linear mixed model for data analysis. This study is accompanied by a cost-effectiveness analysis and a qualitative process evaluation.

RESULTS

This paper describes and discusses the protocol for this controlled, nonrandomized LESTOR study. Enrollment was completed in June 2023. Data analysis is ongoing and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2024. The project started in April 2020 and will end in February 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

We expect that the intervention will improve the clinical outcome of patients with aLVO stroke, especially outside the catchment areas of CSCs. The results of the accompanying process evaluation and the cost-effectiveness analysis will provide further insights into the implementation process and allow for a better interpretation of the results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00022152; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00022152.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/51683.

Assessing the Impact of Transport Modality on Prehospital Times for Victims of Motorcycle Road Traffic Collisions in the Scottish Highlands

OBJECTIVE

Dispersed population, mountainous topography, and extreme weather present logistical challenges for the emergency services providing care to the resident population and tourists visiting the Scottish Highlands. Debate over the value of air ambulances has left uncertainty over when they benefit patients and when their use may inadvertently prolong transfer times in rural settings. The primary objective of this study was to find a provisional threshold at which air ambulances are likely to improve time from injury to arrival at the emergency department for this rural patient cohort using motorcycle road traffic collisions as a single trauma etiology.

METHODS

A retrospective search of Scottish Trauma Audit Group data was undertaken within the time frame of January 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020, inclusive to identify adult motorcyclists who had sustained traumatic injuries on highland roads resulting in a transfer to the single trauma unit located within the territorial health board of NHS Highland. For inclusion to the Scottish Trauma Audit Group audit, injuries sustained had resulted in a hospital stay of 3 or more days or death with an Injury Severity Score calculated post-computed tomography/operating room diagnosis. The method of arrival to the hospital was categorized as 1 of the following: road ambulance only, road ambulance (+ prehospital doctor), any involvement of air resources, or self-presentation to hospital.

RESULTS

Forty-two cases were identified. The mean on-scene times were longer for patients who were transported by air by 43 minutes. Within an isochrone of 77 minutes (road transfer time) around Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, transfer by land ambulance was faster than air. The majority of patients received definitive care at Raigmore Hospital and did not require further onward transfer.

CONCLUSION

For adult motorcyclists with traumatic injuries in the Highlands, helicopter transfer appears to reduce transport times when the estimated journey to the trauma unit by land is greater than 77 minutes or approximately 49 miles. Patients injured closer to the hospital should be transferred by land to achieve an earlier arrival time. On-scene times were shorter for patients conveyed by land rather than helicopter, and the presence of a physician during the prehospital phase did not prolong on-scene time.

[Restructuring of inpatient emergency treatment : What will change?]

The resolution on the restructuring of inpatient emergency treatment was passed by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) on 19 April 2018 based on the Hospital Structure Act and became binding with the publication in the Bundesanzeiger on 18 May 2018. The resolution describes the future structural and qualitative prerequisites for participation of hospitals in the provision of emergency treatment in three levels: basic emergency treatment, extended emergency treatment and comprehensive emergency treatment. Furthermore, a level of nonparticipation is also planned. In addition, there are special modules, e.g. for the treatment of children and auxiliary modules for specifically equipped hospitals with highly specialized patient treatment (e.g. stroke unit). A transition regulation period of 3-5 years provides hospitals with the possibility to adjust to the new minimum requirements. The German Hospital Federation (DKG) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-SV) will negotiate the assessment of surcharges and deductions subsequent to the resolution.

[Future of emergency medicine in Germany 2.0]

In 2003 an article on the future of prehospital emergency medicine in Germany was published in the journal Der Anaesthesist. Emergency medicine in Germany, which at that time was almost exclusively defined as prehospital emergency rescue, has evolved and now in-hospital domains have increasingly moved into the focus. At that time, the primary goal was to connect prehospital management with a smooth transition to hospital admission and further care in the hospital and to further optimize the rescue chain from the actual emergency through to causative treatment. Now after 15 years, the authors have critically assessed the development postulated in 2003 and reevaluated it. Which aspects could be developed further and become firmly established, what is still open and which questions in preclinical and clinical emergency treatment of the population will occupy us in the coming 15 years? With a critical eye to the past, the present contribution aims to capture the essential and new topics and open questions and provide a fresh perspective for the future of emergency medicine. Regulation at the state level or even lower levels of government often stand in contrast to more sweeping and economically effective approaches at the federal level. Prehospital emergency medicine in Germany is on the whole well-positioned with respect to facilities and personnel; however, as far as the economic situation and the utilization of available systems are concerned, there is still substantial room for improvement.

Significant acceleration of emergency response using smartphone geolocation data and a worldwide emergency call support system

Importance

When patients are disorientated or experience language barriers, it is impossible to activate the emergency response system. In these cases, the delay for receiving appropriate help can extend to several hours.

Objectives

A worldwide emergency call support system (ECSS), including geolocation of modern smartphones (GPS, WLAN and LBS), was established referring to E911 and eCall systems. The system was tested for relevance in quickly forwarding abroad emergency calls to emergency medical services (EMS).

Design

To verify that geolocation data from smartphones are exact enough to be used for emergency cases, the accuracy of GPS (global positioning system), Wi-Fi (wireless LAN network) and LBS (location based system) was tested in eleven different countries and compared to actual location. The main objective was analyzed by simulation of emergencies in different countries. The time delay in receiving help in unsuccessful emergency call cases by using the worldwide emergency call support system (ECSS) was measured.

Results

GPS is the gold standard to locate patients with an average accuracy of 2.0 ± 3.3 m. Wi-Fi can be used within buildings with an accuracy of 7.0 ± 24.1 m. Using ECSS, the emergency call leads to a successful activation of EMS in 22.8 ± 10.8 min (Median 21 min). The use of a simple app with one button to touch did never cause any delay.

Conclusions and relevance

The worldwide emergency call support system (ECSS) significantly improves the emergency response in cases of disorientated patients or language barriers. Under circumstances without ECSS, help can be delayed by 2 or more hours and might have relevant lifesaving effects. This is the first time that Wi-Fi geolocation could prove to be a useful improvement in emergencies to enhance GPS, especially within or close to buildings.

[Development of ground-based physician-staffed emergency missions in the city of Leipzig from 2003 to 2013]

BACKGROUND

The annual number of physician-based emergency missions reported is continuously increasing. Data from large cities concerning this development over long periods is sparse.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this retrospective study the charts of all ground-based physician-staffed emergency missions in the city of Leipzig for the first quarters of 2003 and 2013 were analyzed. Patient characteristics, injury and illness severities, mission location, hospital admission rate, as well as emergency interventions were collated. The emergency mission rate was calculated as rescue missions per 1000 inhabitants per year.

RESULTS

The number of physician-staffed emergency missions increased by approximately 24% between 2003 and 2013 (6030 vs. 7470, respectively). The emergency mission rate was 48 vs. 58 in the 2 study periods. The median patient age increased from 66 to 70 years. The number of geriatric patients (age ≥ 85 years: n = 650 (11%) vs. n = 1161 (16%), p < 0.01) also increased. The corresponding number of emergency missions in nursing homes showed a fourfold (n = 175, 3% vs. n = 750, 10%, p < 0.01). The percentage of hospital admissions also increased (n = 3049, 51% vs. n = 4738, 66%, p < 0.01). A change in patient distribution to level I hospitals was noticed (n = 1742, 29% vs. n = 3436, 46%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the necessity for the high number of physician-staffed emergency missions should be verified, especially in the context of strained emergency healthcare resources. The basis of an optimized use of resources could be a better inclusion of alternative, especially ambulant, healthcare structures and the implementation of a structured emergency call questionnaire accompanied by a more efficient disposition of the operating resources, not least in view of the economic aspects. Taking the concentrated patient allocation to level 1 hospitals into consideration, there is a need for optimized patient distribution strategies to minimize the overload of individual institutions and thereby improve the general quality of care at the interface between preclinical and clinical emergency medicine.

Hospital Mortality Based on the Mode of Emergency Medical Services Transportation

OBJECTIVE

We assessed the presentations and outcomes of trauma patients transported by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) versus ground emergency medical services (GEMS).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of trauma registry data at a level I trauma center was conducted for patients transported by GEMS and HEMS between 2011 and 2013. Data were analyzed and categorized based on the mode of transportation.

RESULTS

A total of 4,596 trauma patients were admitted to the hospital with a mean age of 31 ± 15 years. Injured patients were transported to the trauma center by GEMS (93.3%) and HEMS (6.7%). The common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle crash (37%) and falls (25%). Compared with GEMS, patients transported by HEMS were characterized by having a greater injury severity, more proportion of traumatic brain injury, on-scene intubation, and a 2.5-fold higher mortality. However, the impact of mode of transportation on the hospital mortality among severely injured patients has disappeared after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

Patients transported by HEMS may have different characteristic features and outcomes when compared with GEMS. However, further work is needed to identify the subgroups of trauma patients who clearly benefit from the use of HEMS.

[Air rescue missions at night: Data analysis of primary and secondary missions by the DRF air rescue service in 2014]

The advantages that are inherent to the air ambulance service are shown in a reduction in mortality of critically ill or injured patients. The air ambulance service ensures quick and efficient medical care to a patient as well as the immediate transport of patients to a suitable hospital. In addition, primary air rescue has proved to be effective as a support for the standard ground-based ambulance services in some regions of Germany during the night. Under certain conditions, such as the strict adherence to established, practiced and coordinated procedures, air rescue at night does not have a significantly higher risk compared to operations in daytime. Particular requirements should be imposed for air rescue operations at night: a strict indication system for alerting, 4-man helicopter crews solely during the night as well as pilots (and copilots) with the correct qualifications and experience in dealing with night vision devices on a regular basis. Moreover, the helicopters need to be suitable and approved for night flying including cabin upgrades and the appropriate medical technology equipment. To increase the benefits of air rescue for specific diseases and injuries, a nationwide review of the processes is needed to further develop the primary air rescue service.

[Air rescue: current significance and practical issues]

Germany has a nationwide and powerful helicopter emergency medical services system (HEMS), which executes primary rescue missions and interhospital transfer of intensive care patients. In recent years the range of HEMS missions has become modified due to demographic changes and structural changes in the healthcare system. Furthermore, the number of HEMS missions is steadily increasing. If reasonably used air rescue contributes to desired reductions in overall preclinical time. Moreover, it facilitates prompt transport of patients to a hospital suitable for definitive medical care and treatment can be initiated earlier which is a particular advantage for severely injured and critically ill patients. Because of complex challenges during air rescue missions the qualifications of the HEMS personnel have to be considerably higher in comparison with ground based emergency medical services.