Recommended practice for out-of-hospital emergency anaesthesia in adults: Statement from the Out-of-Hospital Emergency Anaesthesia Working Group of the Emergency Medicine Research Group of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care

Anesthesia Management in Emergency and Trauma Surgeries: A Narrative Review

Emergency and trauma surgeries present unique challenges for anesthesiologists due to the acuity of patient conditions and the need for rapid intervention. This review aims to provide insights into the optimal management of anesthesia in emergency and trauma surgery settings. We searched the National Institute of Health PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases between 2014 and 2024 to synthesize current evidence and best practices for anesthesia management during emergency and trauma surgeries. This literature review examines the evolving role of anesthesia in emergency and trauma surgeries, focusing on key considerations such as patient management, hemodynamic stability, and the choice of anesthetic agents. The review discusses recent advancements in anesthesia techniques, including the use of regional anesthesia and multimodal analgesia, to optimize patient outcomes while minimizing complications. Additionally, it discusses the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among anesthesiologists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals in delivering timely and effective care to critically injured patients.

Efficacy of endotracheal intubation in helicopter cabin vs. ground: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Pre-hospital endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a sophisticated procedure with a comparatively high failure rate. Especially, ETI in confined spaces may result in higher difficulty, longer times, and a higher failure rate. This study analyses if Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) intubation (time-to) success are influenced by noise, light, and restricted space in comparison to ground intubation. Available literature reporting these parameters was very limited, thus the reported differences between ETI in helicopter vs. ground by confronting parameters such as time to secure airway, first pass success rate and Cormack-Lehane Score were analysed.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Ovid on October 15th, 2022. The database search provided 2322 studies and 6 studies met inclusion and quality criteria. The research was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022361793).

RESULTS

A total of six studies were selected and analysed as part of the systematic review and meta-analysis. The first pass success rate of ETI was more likely to fail in the helicopter setting as compared to the ground (82,4% vs. 87,3%), but the final success rate was similar between the two settings (96,8% vs. 97,8%). The success rate of intubation in literature was reported higher in physician-staffed HEMS than in paramedic-staffed HEMS. The impact of aircraft type and location inside the vehicle on intubation success rates was inconclusive across studies. The meta-analysis revealed inconsistent results for the mean duration of intubation, with one study reporting shorter intubation times in helicopters (13,0s vs.15,5s), another reporting no significant differences (16,5s vs. 16,8s), and a third reporting longer intubation times in helicopters (16,1s vs. 15,0s).

CONCLUSION

Further research is needed to assess the impact of environmental factors on the quality of ETI on HEMS. While the success rate of endotracheal intubation in helicopters vs. on the ground is not significantly different, the duration and time to secure the airway, and Cormack-Lehane Score may be influenced by environmental factors. However, the limited number of studies reporting on these factors highlights the need for further research in this area.

Prehospital tracheal intubations by anaesthetist-staffed critical care teams: a prospective observational multicentre study

BACKGROUND

Prehospital tracheal intubation is a potentially lifesaving intervention, but is associated with prolonged time on-scene. Some services strongly advocate performing the procedure outside of the ambulance or aircraft, while others also perform the procedure inside the vehicle. This study was designed as a non-inferiority trial registering the rate of successful tracheal intubation and incidence of complications performed by a critical care team either inside or outside an ambulance or helicopter.

METHODS

This observational multicentre study was performed between March 2020 and September 2021 and involved 12 anaesthetist-staffed critical care teams providing emergency medical services by helicopter in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The primary outcome was first-pass successful tracheal intubations.

RESULTS

Of the 422 drug-assisted tracheal intubations examined, 240 (57%) took place in the cabin of the ambulance or helicopter. The rate of first-pass success was 89.2% for intubations in-cabin vs 86.3% outside. This difference of 2.9% (confidence interval -2.4% to 8.2%) (two sided 10%, including 0, but not the non-inferiority limit Δ=-4.5) fulfils our criteria for non-inferiority, but not significant superiority. These results withstand after performing a propensity score analysis. The mean on-scene time associated with the helicopter in-cabin procedures (27 min) was significantly shorter than for outside the cabin (32 min, P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Both in-cabin and outside the cabin, prehospital tracheal intubation by anaesthetists was performed with a high success rate. The mean on-scene time was shorter in the in-cabin helicopter cohort.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04206566.

Iatrogenic Tracheal Rupture Related to Prehospital Emergency Intubation in Adults: A 15-Year Single Center Experience

OBJECTIVE

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture is an unusual and severe complication that can be caused by tracheal intubation. The frequency, management, and outcome of iatrogenic tracheal rupture due to prehospital emergency intubation in adults by emergency response physicians has not yet been sufficiently explored.

METHODS

Adult patients with iatrogenic tracheal ruptures due to prehospital emergency intubation admitted to an academic referral center over a 15-year period (2004-2018) with consideration of individual risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (eight female) with a mean age of 67 years met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Of these, eight tracheal ruptures (62%) were caused during the airway management of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Stylet use and difficult laryngoscopy requiring multiple attempts were documented in eight cases (62%) and four cases (30%), respectively. Seven patients (54%) underwent surgery, while six patients (46%) were treated conservatively. The overall 30-day mortality was 46%; five patients died due to their underlying emergencies and one patient died of tracheal rupture. Three survivors (23%) recovered with severe neurological sequelae and four (30%) were discharged in good neurological condition. Survivors had significantly smaller mean rupture sizes (2.7cm versus 6.3cm; P <.001) and less cutaneous emphysema (n = 2 versus n = 6; P = .021) than nonsurvivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture due to prehospital emergency intubation is a rare complication. Published risk factors are not consistently present and may not be applicable to identify patients at high risk, especially not in rescue situations. Treatment options depend on individual patient condition, whereas outcome largely depends on the underlying disease and rupture extension.

First pass success of tracheal intubation using the C-MAC PM videolaryngoscope as first-line device in prehospital cardiac arrest compared with other emergencies: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Successful airway management is a priority in the resuscitation of critically ill or traumatised patients. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of achieving maximum first pass success, particularly in prehospital advanced airway management.

OBJECTIVE

To compare success rates of emergency intubations between patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest (CPR group) and other emergencies (non-CPR group) using the C-MAC PM videolaryngoscope.

DESIGN

Ongoing analysis of prospective collected prehospital advanced airway management core variables.

SETTING

Single helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) 'Christoph 22', Ulm Military Hospital, Germany, May 2009 to July 2018.

PATIENTS

We included all 1006 HEMS patients on whom prehospital advanced airway management was performed by board-certified anaesthesiologists on call at HEMS 'Christoph 22'.

INTERVENTIONS

The C-MAC PM was used as the first-line device. The initial direct laryngoscopy was carried out using the C-MAC PM without the monitor in sight. After scoring the direct laryngoscopic view according to the Cormack and Lehane grade, the monitor was folded within the sight of the physician and tracheal intubation was performed using the videolaryngoscopic view without removing the blade.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was successful airway management. Secondary outcomes were the patient's position during airway management, necessity for suction, direct and videolaryngoscopic view according to Cormack and Lehane grading, as well as number of attempts needed for successful intubation.

RESULTS

A patent airway was achieved in all patients including rescue techniques. There was a lower first pass success rate in the CPR group compared with the non-CPR group (84.4 vs. 91.4%, P = 0.01). In the CPR group, direct laryngoscopy resulted more often in a clinically unfavourable (Cormack and Lehane grade 3 or 4) glottic view (CPR vs. non-CPR-group 37.2 vs. 26.7%, P = 0.0071). Using videolaryngoscopy reduced the clinically unfavourable grading to Cormack and Lehane 1 or 2 (P < 0.0001). The odds of achieving first pass success were approximately 12-fold higher with a favourable glottic view than with an unfavourable glottic view (OR 12.6, CI, 6.70 to 23.65).

CONCLUSION

Airway management in an anaesthesiologist-staffed HEMS is associated with a high first pass success rate but even with skilled providers using the C-MAC PM videolaryngoscope routinely, patients who require CPR offer more difficulties for successful prehospital advanced airway management at the first attempt.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical trials register (drks.de) DRKS00020484.

Using supraglottic airways by paramedics for airway management in analogue microgravity increases speed and success of ventilation

In the next few years, the number of long-term space missions will significantly increase. Providing safe concepts for emergencies including airway management will be a highly challenging task. The aim of the present trial is to compare different airway management devices in simulated microgravity using a free-floating underwater scenario. Five different devices for airway management [laryngeal mask (LM), laryngeal tube (LT), I-GEL, direct laryngoscopy (DL), and video laryngoscopy (VL)] were compared by n = 20 paramedics holding a diving certificate in a randomized cross-over setting both under free-floating conditions in a submerged setting (pool, microgravity) and on ground (normogravity). The primary endpoint was the successful placement of the airway device. The secondary endpoints were the number of attempts and the time to ventilation. A total of 20 paramedics (3 female, 17 male) participated in this study. Success rate was highest for LM and LT and was 100% both during simulated microgravity and normogravity followed by the I-GEL (90% during microgravity and 95% during normogravity). However, the success rate was less for both DL (60% vs. 95%) and VL (20% vs. 60%). Fastest ventilation was performed with the LT both in normogravity (13.7 ± 5.3 s; n = 20) and microgravity (19.5 ± 6.1 s; n = 20). For the comparison of normogravity and microgravity, time to ventilation was shorter for all devices on the ground (normogravity) as compared underwater (microgravity). In the present study, airway management with supraglottic airways and laryngoscopy was shown to be feasible. Concerning the success rate and time to ventilation, the optimum were supraglottic airways (LT, LM, I-GEL) as their placement was faster and associated with a higher success rate. For future space missions, the use of supraglottic airways for airway management seems to be more promising as compared to tracheal intubation by DL or VL.

Difficulty Ventilating: A Case Report on Ventilation Considerations of an Intubated Asthmatic Undergoing Air Medical Critical Care Transport

The air medical transport of intubated patients is a high-risk mission that requires preplanning before helicopter launch. This case describes a scenario in which the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) team was unable to ventilate a patient because of the mechanical limitations of the transport ventilator. The HEMS mission was ultimately aborted, and the patient had to be transported by a ground crew equipped with a hospital-based ventilator. In addition to the optimal medical management of the patient in status asthmaticus, critical care transport crews must be familiar with the treatment of patients exhibiting extremely high peak airway pressures. Specifically, ventilator manipulations as well as the technical specifications of the transport ventilator may preclude the patient from being transported by the HEMS team. It is imperative that the patient's current ventilator setting be evaluated before the launch of the aircraft to prevent any possible delays in patient care.

Intubation during a medevac flight: safety and effect on total prehospital time in the helicopter emergency medical service system

INTRODUCTION

The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) commonly intubates patients who require advanced airway support prior to takeoff. In-flight intubation (IFI) is avoided because it is considered difficult due to limited space, difficulty communicating, and vibration in flight. However, IFI may shorten the total prehospital time. We tested whether IFI can be performed safely by the HEMS.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in adult patients transported from 2010 to 2017 who received prehospital, non-emergent intubation from a single HEMS. We divided the cohort in two groups, patients intubated during flight (flight group, FG) and patients intubated before takeoff (ground group, GG). The primary outcome was the proportion of successful intubations. Secondary outcomes included total prehospital time and the incidence of complications.

RESULTS

We analyzed 376 patients transported during the study period, 192 patients in the FG and 184 patients in the GG. The intubation success rate did not differ between the two groups (FG 189/192 [98.4%] vs. GG 179/184 [97.3%], p = 0.50). There were also no differences in hypoxia (FG 4/117 [3.4%] vs. GG 4/95 [4.2%], p = 1.00) or hypotension (FG 6/117 [5.1%] vs. GG 5/95 [5.3%], p = 1.00) between the two groups. Scene time and total prehospital time were shorter in the FG (scene time 7 min vs. 14 min, p <  0.001; total prehospital time 33.5 min vs. 40.0 min, p <  0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

IFI was safely performed with high success rates, similar to intubation on the ground, without increasing the risk of hypoxia or hypotension. IFI by experienced providers shortened transportation time, which may improve patient outcomes.

Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Guidelines for Prehospital Care

Introduction: Multiple national organizations have identified a need to incorporate more evidence-based medicine in emergency medical services (EMS) through the creation of evidence-based guidelines (EBGs). Tools like the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II and criteria outlined by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) have established concrete recommendations for the development of high-quality guidelines. While many guidelines have been created that address topics within EMS medicine, neither the quantity nor quality of prehospital EBGs have been previously reported. Objectives: To perform a systematic review to identify existing EBGs related to prehospital care and evaluate the quality of these guidelines using the AGREE II tool and criteria for clinical guidelines described by the NAM. Methods: We performed a systematic search of the literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMED, Trip, and guidelines.gov, through September 2018. Guideline topics were categorized based on the 2019 Core Content of EMS Medicine. Two independent reviewers screened titles for relevance and then abstracts for essential guideline features. Included guidelines were appraised with the AGREE II tool across 6 domains by 3 independent reviewers and scores averaged. Two additional reviewers determined if each guideline reported the key elements of clinical practice guidelines recommended by the NAM via consensus. Results: We identified 71 guidelines, of which 89% addressed clinical aspects of EMS medicine. Only 9 guidelines scored >75% across AGREE II domains and most (63%) scored between 50 and 75%. Domain 4 (Clarity of Presentation) had the highest (79.7%) and domain 5 (Applicability) had the lowest average score across EMS guidelines. Only 38% of EMS guidelines included a reporting of all criteria identified by the NAM for clinical practice guidelines, with elements of a systematic review of the literature most commonly missing. Conclusions: EBGs exist addressing a variety of topics in EMS medicine. This systematic review and appraisal of EMS guidelines identified a wide range in the quality of these guidelines and variable reporting of key elements of clinical guidelines. Future guideline developers should consider established methodological and reporting recommendations to improve the quality of EMS guidelines.

Checklists in pre-hospital advanced airway management

BACKGROUND

In pre-hospital care, pre-intubation checklists (PICL) are widely implemented as a safety measure and guidelines support their use. However, the true value of PICL among experienced airway providers is unknown. This study aims to explore possible benefits and disadvantages of PICL in the pre-hospital setting.

METHODS

We performed a subgroup analysis of a prospective, observational, multicentre study on pre-hospital advanced airway management in the Nordic countries between May 2015 and November 2016. The original trial was designed to investigate the success rates of pre-hospital tracheal intubations and the incidence of complications. Our study limited inclusion to drug assisted intubations performed by anaesthesiologists. Intubation success rates and complication rates were plotted against checklist use.

RESULTS

We analyzed 588 pre-hospital intubations for medical and traumatic emergencies. Overall, checklists were used in 60.5% of instances. Applying checklists was associated with increased success at first and second intubation attempts. There was no significant difference in the overall success rates (99.4% and 99.1%). Oesophageal misplacement was more common in the No-PICL group (2.2% vs 0.3%) but otherwise the incidence of airway related complications did not differ between the groups. Scene time was significantly shorter in the No-PICL group (23.6 vs 27.5 minutes).

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective study, checklist use correlated with fewer attempts at intubation when securing the airway. Despite this, we found no association between checklist use and the overall TI success rate or the incidence of serious adverse events. Scene times were shorter without PICL.

Airway Management in the Emergency Department (The OcEAN-Study) - a prospective single centre observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Emergency airway management (AM) is a major key for successful resuscitation of critically ill non-traumatic (CINT) patients. Details of the AM of these patients in German emergency departments (ED) are unknown. This observational study describes epidemiology, airway techniques, success rates and complications of AM in CINT ED patients in the resuscitation room (RR).

METHODS

Data was collected prospectively on adult CINT patients admitted to the RR of a single German university ED September 2014 to August 2015. Patient characteristics, out-of-hospital and in-hospital RR AM, complications and success rates were recorded using a self-developed airway registry form.

RESULTS

During the study period 34,303 patients were admitted to the ED, out of those 21,074 patients for non-trauma emergencies. Suffering from severe acute life-threatening problems, 532 CINT patients were admitted to the RR. 150 (28.2%) CINT patients had received out-of-hospital AM. In 16 of these cases (10.7%) the inserted airway needed to be changed after RR admission (unrecognized oesophageal intubation: n = 2, laryngeal tube exchange: n = 14). 136 (25.6%) CINT patients without out-of-hospital AM received RR AM immediately after admission. The first-pass and overall success rate in the RR were 71 and 100%, respectively, and multiple intubation attempts were necessary in 29%. A lower Cormack/Lehane (C/L) grade was associated with less intubation attempts (C/L1/2 vs. 3/4: 1.2 ± 0.5 vs. 1.8 ± 1.2, p = 0.0002). Complication rate was 43%.

CONCLUSIONS

OcEAN demonstrates the challenges of AM in CINT patients in a German ED RR. We propose a nation-wide ED airway registry to better track outcomes in the future.

Airway management in pre-hospital critical care: a review of the evidence for a 'top five' research priority

The conduct and benefit of pre-hospital advanced airway management and pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia have been widely debated for many years. In 2011, prehospital advanced airway management was identified as a ‘top five’ in physician-provided pre-hospital critical care. This article summarises the evidence for and against this intervention since 2011 and attempts to address some of the more controversial areas of this topic.

Prehospital ultrasound-guided nerve blocks improve reduction-feasibility of dislocated extremity injuries compared to systemic analgesia. A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Out-of-hospital analgosedation in trauma patients is challenging for emergency physicians due to associated complications. We compared peripheral nerve block (PNB) with analgosedation (AS) as an analgetic approach for patients with isolated extremity injury, assuming that prehospital required medical interventions (e.g. reduction, splinting of dislocation injury) using PNB are less painful and more feasible compared to AS.

METHODS

Thirty patients (aged 18 or older) were randomized to receive either ultrasound-guided PNB (10 mL prilocaine 1%, 10 mL ropivacaine 0.2%) or analgosedation (midazolam combined with s-ketamine or with fentanyl). Reduction-feasibility was classified (easy, intermediate, impossible) and pain scores were assessed using numeric rating scales (NRS 0-10).

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were included in the PNB-group and twelve in the AS-group; 15 and 9 patients, respectively, suffered dislocation injury. In the PNB-group, reduction was more feasible (easy: 80.0%, impossible: 20.0%) compared to the AS-group (easy: 22.2%, intermediate: 22.2%, impossible: 55.6%; p = 0.01). During medical interventions, 5.6% [1/18] of the PNB-patients and 58.3% [7/12] of the AS-patients experienced pain (p<0.01). Recorded pain scores were significantly lower in the PNB-group during prehospital medical intervention (median[IQR] NRS PNB: 0[0-0]) compared to the AS-group (6[0-8]; p<0.001) as well as on first day post presentation (NRS PNB: 1[0-5], AS: 5[5-7]; p = 0.050). All patients of the PNB-group would recommend their analgesic technique (AS: 50.0%, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Prehospital ultrasound-guided PNB is rapidly performed in extremity injuries with high success. Compared to the commonly used AS in trauma patients, PNB significantly reduces pain intensity and severity.

A Protocol for Helicopter In-Cabin Intubation

OBJECTIVE

The gold standard for prehospital intubation is to avoid intubating in confined spaces. For our helicopter service, this is not always realistic. Operating in a rural region with a subarctic, cold climate, our crews are frequently forced to intubate inside ambulances or in our helicopter. This article describes a protocol for in-cabin intubation and compares it with standard open space conditions.

METHODS

Fourteen prehospital physicians were randomized to solve a simplified clinical scenario during which they were to intubate a mannequin either inside the helicopter, in accordance with our in-cabin protocol, or outside on an ambulance stretcher. Participants scored intubating conditions using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Cormack-Lehane classification. The number of intubation attempts was recorded. Three timing end points were also measured.

RESULTS

All intubations were successful on the first attempt. All participants reported an optimal glottic view of Cormack-Lehane 1 in both scenario conditions. Participants perceived in-cabin intubation to be less difficult than intubating outdoors. (VAS 1 vs. VAS 2, P = .02). We found no difference in the duration of intubation. Scene time was 53.5 seconds (P = .04) shorter in the in-cabin group. In-cabin intubation delayed the establishment of a secure airway by 63 seconds (P = .01).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that protocolized in-cabin intubation can be performed in a timely manner under conditions that are equal to or better than when intubating outside on a stretcher with 360-degree patient access. Although delaying the establishment of a secure airway, in-cabin intubation may reduce scene times.

Advanced airway management in hoist and longline operations in mountain HEMS - considerations in austere environments: a narrative review This review is endorsed by the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MEDCOM)

Background

Providing sufficient oxygenation and ventilation is of paramount importance for the survival of emergency patients. Therefore, advanced airway management is one of the core tasks for every rescue team. Endotracheal intubation is the gold standard to secure the airway in the prehospital setting. This review aims to highlight special considerations for advanced airway management preceding human external cargo (HEC) evacuations.

Methods

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed in August 2017 for articles on airway management and ventilation in patients before hoist or longline operation in HEMS. Relevant reference lists were hand-searched.

Results

Three articles with regard to advanced airway management and five articles concerning the epidemiology of advanced airway management in hoist or longline rescue missions were included. We found one case report regarding ventilation during hoist operations.

The exact incidence of advanced airway management before evacuation of a patient by HEC is unknown but seems to be very low (< 5%). There are several hazards which can impede mechanical ventilation of patients during HEC extractions: loss of equipment, hyperventilation, inability to ventilate and consequent hypoxia, as well as inadequacy of monitoring.

Conclusions

Advanced airway management prior to HEC operation is rarely performed. If intubation before helicopter hoist operations (HHO) and human cargo sling (HCS) extraction is considered by the rescue team, a risk/benefit analysis should be performed and a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) should be defined. Continuous and rigorous training including the whole crew is required. An international registry on airway management during HEC extraction would be desirable.

Mechanical complications and outcomes following invasive emergency procedures in severely injured trauma patients

This study aimes to determine the complication rates, possible risk factors and outcomes of emergency procedures performed during resuscitation of severely injured patients. The medical records of patients with an injury severity score (ISS) >15 admitted to the University Hospital Leipzig from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. Within the first 24 hours of treatment, 526 patients had an overall mechanical complication rate of 26.2%. Multivariate analysis revealed out-of-hospital airway management (OR 3.140; 95% CI 1.963–5.023; p < 0.001) and ISS (per ISS point: OR 1.024; 95% CI 1.003–1.045; p = 0.027) as independent predictors of any mechanical complications. Airway management complications (13.2%) and central venous catheter complications (11.4%) were associated with ISS >32.5 (p < 0.001) and ISS >33.5 (p = 0.005), respectively. Chest tube complications (15.8%) were associated with out-of-hospital insertion (p = 0.002) and out-of-hospital tracheal intubation (p = 0.033). Arterial line complications (9.4%) were associated with admission serum lactate >4.95 mmol/L (p = 0.001) and base excess <−4.05 mmol/L (p = 0.008). In multivariate analysis, complications were associated with an increased length of stay in the intensive care unit (p = 0.019) but not with 24 hour mortality (p = 0.930). Increasing injury severity may contribute to higher complexity of the individual emergency treatment and is thus associated with higher mechanical complication rates providing potential for further harm.

[Polytrauma following a truck accident : How to save lives by guideline-oriented emergency care]

BACKGROUND

Identification and immediate treatment of life-threatening conditions is fundamental in patients with multiple trauma. In this context, the S3 guidelines on polytrauma and the S1 guidelines on emergency anesthesia provide the scientific background on how to handle these situations.

CASE STUDY

This case report deals with a seriously injured driver involved in a truck accident. The inaccessible patient showed a scalping injury of the facial skeleton with massive bleeding and partially blocked airway but with spontaneous breathing as well as centralized cardiovascular circulation conditions and an initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 8. An attempt was made to stop the massive bleeding by using hemostyptic-coated dressings. In addition, the patient was intubated via video laryngoscopy and received a left and right thoracic drainage as well as two entry points for intraosseous infusion.

DISCUSSION

In modern emergency medical services, treatment based on defined algorithms is recommended and also increasingly established in dealing with critical patients. The guideline-oriented emergency care of patients with polytrauma requires invasive measures, such as intubation and thoracic decompression in the preclinical setting. The foundation for this procedure includes training in theory and practice both of the non-medical and medical rescue service personnel.

Hypoxia and hypotension in patients intubated by physician staffed helicopter emergency medical services - a prospective observational multi-centre study

BACKGROUND

The effective treatment of airway compromise in trauma and non-trauma patients is important. Hypoxia and hypotension are predictors of negative patient outcomes and increased mortality, and may be important quality indicators of care provided by emergency medical services. Excluding cardiac arrests, critical trauma and non-trauma patients remain the two major groups to which helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are dispatched. Several studies describe the impact of pre-hospital hypoxia or hypotension on trauma patients, but few studies compare this in trauma and non-trauma patients. The primary aim was to describe the incidence of pre-hospital hypoxia and hypotension in the two groups receiving pre-hospital tracheal intubation (TI) by physician-staffed HEMS.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively over a 12-month period, using a uniform Utstein-style airway template. Twenty-one physician-staffed HEMS in Europe and Australia participated. We compared peripheral oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure before and after definitive airway management. Data were analysed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel methods and mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

Eight hundred forty three trauma patients and 422 non-trauma patients receiving pre-hospital TI were included. Non-trauma patients had significantly lower predicted mean pre-intervention SpO₂ compared to trauma patients. Post-intervention and admission SpO₂ for the two groups were comparable. However, 3% in both groups were still hypoxic at admission. For hypotension, the differences between the groups were less prominent. However, 9% of trauma and 10% of non-trauma patients were still hypotensive at admission. There was no difference in short-term survival between trauma (97%) and non-trauma patients (95%). Decreased level of consciousness was the most frequent indication for TI, and was associated with increased survival to hospital (cOR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4-5.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that non-trauma patients had a higher incidence of hypoxia before TI than trauma patients, but few were hypoxic at admission. The difference for hypotension was less prominent, but one in ten patients were still hypotensive at admission. Further investigations are needed to identify reversible causes that may be corrected to improve haemodynamics in the pre-hospital setting. We found high survival rates to hospital in both groups, suggesting that physician-staffed HEMS provide high-quality emergency airway management in trauma and non-trauma patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01502111 . Registered 22 Desember 2011.