Prehospital advanced life support: benefits in trauma

Emergency endotracheal intubation in pediatric trauma

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and associated problems of emergency intubation in 605 injured infants and children admitted to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1987. We identified 63 patients (10.4%) undergoing endotracheal intubation at the scene of injury, at a referring hospital or in our emergency department. Injuries were to the head (90.5%), abdomen (12.7%), face (11.1%), chest (6.3%), neck (3.2%); or were orthopedic (19%) or multiple (39.7%). Indications for intubation included coma (74.6%), shock (28.6%), apnea (22.2%), and airway obstruction (3.2%). Of 16 complications (25.4%), 13 were immediately life threatening: right mainstem intubation (5), massive barotrauma (2), failure of adequate preoxygenation (2), esophageal intubation (1), attempt at nasotracheal intubation in an open facial fracture (1), and extubation during transport (1). Three were late complications: vocal cord paresis (2) and subglottic stenosis (1). Airway complications led to PO2 less than 90 mm Hg in 7 of 12 on first ABG, compared to 9 of 44 in uncomplicated cases (p less than 0.05). Intubation attempts at the scene of injury were more often multiple, unsuccessful, and associated with airway complications. All four complication-associated fatalities were life-threatening scene complications. Nearly one half (44.4%, 28 of 63) had one of the following problems in respiratory management: major airway complication, PaO2 less than 90, or PaCO2 greater than 45 on either the first or second ABG after arrival at our emergency department. Head injury with coma is the most common setting for emergency intubation. Airway complications are common, and are more frequent in treatment attempt at the scene. Despite endotracheal intubation, injured children in our series remain at high risk for hypoxemia, elevated arterial PCO2, and major airway complications, all of which contribute to secondary brain injury.

Intravenous fluid therapy in the prehospital management of hemorrhagic shock: improved outcome with hypertonic saline/6% Dextran 70 in a swine model

The small quantities of 7.5% hypertonic saline (HTS) in 6% Dextran 70 (DEX 70; Travenol Laboratories, Deerfield, IL) required to produce marked improvement in tissue perfusion may make it an ideal solution for the prehospital management of hypotensive trauma patients. This study shows that the initial treatment of porcine hemorrhagic shock with 7.5% HTS/6% DEX 70 results in significantly improved hemodynamics and higher survival rates than those seen in animals treated with normal saline. These results are very encouraging and dictate the need for evaluation in human trials.

Medical versus regulatory necessity: regulation of ambulance service in Arizona

Governmental regulation of emergency medical services and transportation differs from state to state. In Arizona, the Department of Health Services (ADHS) regulates the provision of ambulance service through a "certificate-of-necessity" (CON) process. Paramedic rescue services provided by municipalities are not, by statute, mandated to comply with these ADHS regulations. We review the way in which criteria for the determination of ambulance need were adopted by this state agency and the effects of their application in Tucson, Arizona. Approximately one million dollars and 5,500 unnecessary "code 3" (lights and siren activated) emergency vehicle trips were mandated by the ADHS need criteria, over a twelve-month period. We conclude that non-scientifically-derived regulatory criteria may conflict with prudent medical control of prehospital emergency medical services (EMS).

Prehospital intravenous line placement: a prospective study

We prospectively measured the on-scene time, transport time, and IV line starting time for 97 patients receiving paramedic care in an urban region during an 18-month period. The overall success rate for IV line placement was 91%, and the average successful IV line starting time was 2.5 minutes. En route IV line attempts had similar success rates and starting times. The on-scene IV line starting times were shorter than the transport times in 86% of patients. We conclude that definitive IV line medical therapy, when available, can be delivered effectively by paramedics at the scene. We also conclude that en route IV line placement is feasible in trauma victims.

Prehospital care of the patient with an injured chest

The trauma patient with thoracic injury poses special problems for the paramedic. A chest injury frequently is a signal of other injury and alerts the paramedic to transport the patient to the regional trauma center, regardless of triage criteria applicable in any general area. In patients with chest injury, fluids should be judiciously administered, and pneumatic garments should NOT be applied. Trocar chest tubes should be avoided. Airway management is of prime importance, and the airway can be assured and protected by the paramedics. As time is of prime concern, the patient with thoracic injury should be transported as soon as possible to a regional trauma center. For distances of less than 35 miles, advanced life-support ground ambulances are preferable to air ambulances.

The injured heart

Penetrating and blunt injuries to the heart, ranging from cardiac concussion to rupture, are seen more and more frequently. Prompt diagnosis because of a high index of suspicion and timely, well-executed resuscitative efforts are rewarded by remarkable survival rates, even in the patients presenting in extremis, whereas hesitancy in diagnosis and therapeutic action militates against a successful result.

Vertical trauma: injuries to patients who fall and land on their feet

We reviewed the patterns of injuries sustained by 12 consecutive fallers and jumpers in whom primary impact was onto the feet. The fall heights ranged from 20 to 100 ft. The 12 patients sustained 49 significant injuries. Skeletal injuries were most frequent and included 15 lower extremity fractures, four pelvic fractures, and nine spinal fractures. In two patients, paraplegia resulted. Genitourinary tract injuries included bladder hematoma, renal artery transection, and renal contusion. Thoracic injuries included rib fractures, pneumothorax, and hemothorax. Secondary impact resulted in several craniofacial and upper extremity injuries. Chronic neurologic disability and prolonged morbidity were common. One patient died; the patient who fell 100 ft survived. After initial stabilization, survival is possible after falls or jumps from heights as great as 100 feet It is important to recognize the skeletal and internal organs at risk from high-magnitude vertical forces.

Early versus late fluid resuscitation: lack of effect in porcine hemorrhagic shock

The benefit of IV fluid therapy in the prehospital management of hemorrhagic shock is unproven. We used a reproducible, lightly anesthetized model of porcine continuous hemorrhage to evaluate the usefulness of pre-hospital IV fluid therapy. Incorporated into the model were time delays associated with ambulance request and dispatch, patient evaluation and treatment, and transport to the hospital in the average urban prehospital care system. Treatment occurred concurrently with hemorrhage. Twenty-eight immature swine (15 to 20 kg) were bled at a rate of 1.25 mL/kg/min. Animals in the prehospital IV group (n = 14) received fluid resuscitation at 1 mL/kg/min beginning 20 minutes after initiation of hemorrhage; those in the in-hospital IV group (n = 14) received fluid at a rate of 3 mL/kg/min beginning 35 minutes after hemorrhage. Both groups received blood and saline at 3 mL/kg/min 45 minutes after hemorrhage began, and both groups had hemorrhage controlled 25 minutes after simulated hospital arrival. Survival was 57% in both groups, and there were no statistically significant differences seen in measured hemodynamic or biochemical parameters. We conclude that early administration of IV normal saline has no effect on hemodynamics or survival in this porcine hemorrhagic shock model simulating an urban prehospital care system.

Factors contributing to paramedic onscene time during evaluation and management of blunt trauma

Prehospital patient management decisions are complex because the traumatized patient population is heterogeneous with respect to demographics, mechanism of injury, physiological response to injury, and time from injury to medical care. One hundred and nine blunt trauma patient evaluations by paramedics in a county-wide semirural emergency medical services (EMS) system were analyzed to determine paramedic time on the scene and the factors that might influence onscene time. Onscene time linearly correlated with a prolonged transport time. Hemodynamic and respiratory dysfunction were also associated with increased onscene time. Mean onscene time was not significantly different between high (greater than 13) and low (less than or equal to 13) trauma score (TS) groups, although patients with low TS did receive more interventions (more intravenous lines, more frequent intubation, and more frequent pneumatic antishock garment use). Similar results were found when high (greater than 10) and low (less than or equal to 10) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) groups were compared. The correlation of emergency department TS with initial prehospital TS and onscene time demonstrated a small improvement in TS with increasing onscene time for the patient with an initial TS greater than or equal to 13. However, patient groups with either a low TS or a low GCS score showed no significant improvement in TS with increasing onscene time. Without a strict management algorithm, paramedics use a variety of cues to guide their actions during the onscene management of blunt trauma. Future studies should address the impact of strict management algorithms on onscene time and ultimate patient outcome.

Emergency medicine and the developing world

The developing countries of the world represent a new environment in which to apply the unique expertise and knowledge of emergency medicine. With an understanding of the cultural, political and economic forces that affect health care in developing countries, American emergency physicians should consider collaboration with their counterparts in developing countries in such areas as prehospital care systems, trauma care, disaster management, poison information and management systems, and education related to clinical services, administration, and research methods in emergency medicine. Such collaboration can broaden the field of emergency medicine and fulfill individual humanitarian goals.

A controlled trial of prehospital advanced life support in trauma

We compared the outcome of 472 trauma patients who required ambulance attention and who received prehospital advanced life support (ALS) with another similar 589 patients who received only basic life support (BLS). Nontrapped, critically injured ALS patients were treated for an average of 13 minutes at the scene of injury, compared with 17 minutes for BLS cases (P less than .05). Seventeen of 37 ALS deaths (36%) occurred within 24 hours of injury, compared with 24 of 33 BLS fatalities (73%) (P less than .05). However, the overall case fatality rate was similar in the two groups, and regression analyses did not demonstrate an impact of ALS care on mortality. ALS resuscitation did not reduce the duration of hospital or intensive care unit stay, or the incidence of disability after head injury. However, the incidence of respiratory failure in the critically injured patients was 5% (ALS) and 19% (BLS) (P less than .025). ALS care appeared to influence patient outcome during the first 24 hours after injury, but had little impact on the later clinical course. Our sample size was too small to rule out any effect of ALS on in-hospital mortality. However, the improved 24-hour survival associated with ALS care suggests some benefit of prehospital resuscitation in major trauma.

Right ventricular dysfunction in multiple trauma victims

We studied 17 victims of multiple trauma and found that right ventricular function can be reliably monitored at the bedside using the thermodilution method. In addition, we noted that right ventricular dysfunction occurred early in victims of major trauma without affecting the left ventricular function. If right ventricular function does not improve, the patient is likely to die. Further studies are needed to determine if early intervention aimed at improving right ventricular function can improve survival.

Basic trauma life support

The impact of traumatic injuries on modern society in terms of morbidity, mortality, and economic cost is enormous. Studies have shown that both advanced life support skills and rapid stabilization and transport of the trauma victim have a beneficial effect on the patient's ultimate outcome. The Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) course was designed to provide pre-hospital care providers with the skills necessary to provide a thorough assessment, initial resuscitation, and rapid transportation of the trauma victim. Early studies suggest that the material is easily learned by prehospital care providers and that the on-scene time for trauma cases is reduced following training in BTLS. More widespread training in BTLS may have a significant effect on the mortality and morbidity associated with traumatic injuries.

Trauma Score change during transport: is it predictive of mortality?

The Trauma Score, a physiologic measure of injury severity, has been used to evaluate prehospital care by comparing the score before with the score after patient transport. To assess the value of the Trauma Score when used in this way, we compared the change in Trauma Score (TS change) during transport to eventual mortality in a group of injured patients. Patients transported by helicopter to the base hospital during a 22-month period had scores obtained on arrival of the flight crew (TS initial) and again on arrival at the emergency department (TS after transport). Stepwise logistic regression was used to test the predictive power for mortality of TS initial, TS after transport, and TS change. Of 387 patients transferred during the study period, 376 patients had complete information and were included in the analysis. Approximately 75% of patients had no TS change. The best predictor of mortality was TS after transport (F = 80.94, P less than .01). When TS after transport was removed as an explanatory variable, TS initial was found to have significant predictive power for mortality (F = 76.98, P less than .01), with TS change adding significantly to predictive power (F = 15.02, P less than .01). We conclude that because TS change is predictive of survival, it is potentially useful as an outcome measure to evaluate the impact of treatment during transport.

Prehospital advanced life support vs "scoop and run" in trauma management

The question of attempted field stabilization versus the "scoop and run" approach in the management of trauma has no clear-cut answer. We have long been supporting a complex EMS system based on a hope for its effectiveness, rather than concrete proof. The data we need are not currently available. To make any scientific conclusions, we must have data generated from well-controlled, prospective, randomized studies. This involves a question of ethics. There exists a strong general feeling that randomizing prehospital care is unethical. We have reached a point where full resuscitative effort at the scene is not only expected by the general public, but anything less is considered inadequate by much of the medical community. Nevertheless, because the true influence of prehospital treatment is unknown, shouldn't the patient also be given the benefit of not receiving on-site stabilization effort in view of its potential harm? Prospective randomized studies undoubtedly will invite criticism. However, this is the only way to generate any meaningful conclusions. The essential questions remain unanswered. Can criticality be reliably assessed in the field, and if so, will advanced life support serve to reduce this criticality, or only further delay appropriate care?

Prehospital advanced trauma life support for critical blunt trauma victims

The ability of paramedics to deliver advanced trauma life support (ATLS) in an expedient fashion for victims of trauma has been strongly challenged. In this study, the records of 114 consecutive victims of blunt trauma who underwent laparotomy or thoracotomy were reviewed. Prehospital care was rendered by paramedics operating under strict protocols. The mean response time (minutes +/- SEM) to the scene was 5.6 +/- 0.27. On-scene time was 13.9 +/- 0.62. The time to return to the hospital was 8.0 +/- 0.4. On-scene time included assessing hazards at the scene, patient extrication, spine immobilization (n = 98), application of oxygen (n = 94), measurement of vital signs (n = 114), splinting of 59 limbs, and the following ATLS procedures: endotracheal intubation (n = 31), IV access (n = 106), ECG monitoring (n = 69), procurement of blood for tests including type and cross (n = 58), and application of a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) (n = 31). On-scene times were analyzed according to the number of ATLS procedures performed: insertion of one IV line (n = 46), 14.8 +/- 1.03 minutes; two IV lines (n = 28), 13.4 +/- 0.92; one IV line plus intubation (n = 7), 14.0 +/- 2.94; two IV lines plus intubation (n = 9), 17.0 +/- 2.38; and two IV lines plus intubation plus PASG (n = 13), 12.4 +/- 1.36. Of the 161 IV attempts, 94% were completed successfully. Of 36 attempts at endotracheal intubation, 89% were successful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Emergency department thoracotomy for trauma: a collective review

A decade of experience with resuscitative thoracotomy for the trauma victim in extremis has been gained since the pioneering efforts of Mattox and his associates in 1974. It appears, from a review of the various reports from different trauma centers, that there is an emergence of a consensus as to the best indications for the procedure. It is generally agreed upon that ERT is fruitless in the patient with severe head trauma or when vital signs were absent at the scene of the injury. In the absence of penetrating thoracic injuries ERT yields a very poor survival in patients without vital signs on admission to the emergency center. It is widely accepted that the best results for ERT are in patients with cardiac tamponade. The prognosis is hopeless in patients without vital signs after sustaining blunt trauma.

A prehospital approach to multiple-victim incidents

Although most prehospital systems have well-developed protocols for single-victim rescues and mass casualties, multiple-victim incidents falling between the two in scope have not been analyzed in detail. Forty-one audio tapes of incidents with four or more victims were evaluated for techniques and decisions that affected the runs' speed and efficiency. Common problems both in the field and at the base hospital were identified. Recommendations for management in the field and for paramedic and base station transmissions are given.

Emergency department thoracotomy for penetrating injuries: predictive value of patient classification

In 18 months, 44 patients underwent thoracotomy in an emergency department (ED) for penetrating thoracic injuries. Of 14 patients resuscitated, seven (50%) survived, and all were neurologically intact. Patients were classified according to the quality of signs of life in transit or upon arrival at the ED. Identical survival rates of 29% were noted for patients in Group I (profound shock) and in Group II (agonal), with survival at 14% for individuals in Group III ("dead" on arrival). There were no survivors among patients in Group IV ("dead" on the scene), and ED thoracotomy, in the authors' opinion, is fruitless in this group. In Groups I, II, and III, total salvage from cardiac injuries was six of 24 patients (25%), and for those with non-cardiac injuries, it was one of 11 (9%). The rate of survival from cardiac stab wounds in Groups I, II, and III, was five of 16 (31%) and one of eight (13%) for gunshot wounds. Five of the seven survivors (71%) arrived at the ED by rapid transport without the benefit of any pre-hospital life support. Patient classification appears to be a valuable tool in evaluating the benefit of ED thoracotomy. The neurological status of all survivors and pertinent transportation data should be included in all future studies of ED thoracotomy. "Scoop and run" in the urban setting with rapid transport capability may be superior to pre-hospital stabilization of victims of penetrating thoracic trauma.

Trauma triage--a comparison of the trauma score and the vital signs score

A pilot study of the Trauma Score (TS) was performed from July to September 1983. The Vital Signs Score (VSS) used by the ambulance paramedics, was compared with TS. Of 266 patients suitable for study, TS data was collected for 110. Other exclusions resulted in a detailed analysis of data from 65 patients among whom there were eight deaths. There was a significant correlation between TS and VSS, however, TS more accurately defined the population at risk of death. A score greater than 12 correlated with a mortality of zero for the TS, but for the VSS it correlated with a mortality of 4.4%. A score less than or equal to 12 correlated with a mortality of 61.5% for the TS but only 30% for the VSS. Stepwise regression analysis of the TS, VSS and combinations of their components was performed to determine their capacities to predict death. A combination of three components of the TS, corresponding to the Triage Index of Champion, was a better predictor than the total TS. Neither the VSS nor any combinations of its components had the predictive capacity of the total TS. If the TS and the VSS were used to select high risk patients for a particular rescue or resuscitation protocol, and scores were selected which gave 100% sensitivity with the highest possible specificity, the positive predictive values of the TS and VSS would be respectively 61.5% and 26.7%. The protocol would be administered unnecessarily to 73.3% of patients selected by the VSS, but only to 38.5% of patients selected by the TS. The TS is proposed as an aid to triage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Paramedic use of advanced life support procedures: experience and attitude survey

To gather information about paramedic use of 11 advanced life-support (ALS) procedures, 74 emergency physicians and 171 paramedics practicing in Utah were surveyed. Response was 66% and 65%, respectively. Performance difficulty, frequency of use, and success rate were evaluated. The willingness of physicians to order, and paramedics to perform each procedure were compared. Physicians' and paramedics' difficulty ratings were significantly different (P less than .001) for only 3 of the 11 procedures. During the study period, paramedics successfully performed 455 procedures; 229 were performed by 15 (13%) of the responding paramedics. The reported success rate for all attempted procedures was 82% (455/557). The number of attempts and the success rate was significantly higher (P less than .05) for paramedics with secondary medically affiliated employment. Paramedics were significantly more willing to perform 7 of the 11 procedures (P less than .001) than physicians were willing to order. We conclude that paramedic and physician difficulty ratings were generally similar, that many types of ALS procedures are rarely performed, that a small percentage of paramedics perform the largest number of ALS procedures, that secondary employment increases paramedics' procedural attempts and improves success rates, and that they are more willing to perform ALS procedures than physicians are to order them.

Application of the trauma score in the prehospital setting

The Trauma Score (TS) is a physiologic measure of injury severity that correlates with patient outcome. Application of the TS has shown that it is useful for patient triage, for predicting patient outcome, and as a means of normalizing for case mix when comparing prehospital care and transport modalities. Our study explored the interrater reliability of assessments of TS variables that were made by emergency medical technicians and paramedics during the prehospital phase. Results showed that 95.3% of the assessments made by prehospital personnel agreed with those made by a highly-trained nurse observer, despite slight variations in assessment techniques. The results have implications for prehospital field use of the TS.

Hospital-based rotorcraft aeromedical emergency care services and trauma mortality: a multicenter study

A group of 1,273 blunt trauma patients who were treated and transported from the site of injury by seven different hospital-based rotorcraft aeromedical emergency care services were studied using a methodology based on injury severity designed to predict the mortality of such patients. The methodology predicted that 241 patients should have died; 191 patients did die. This 21% reduction in expected mortality was highly significant (P less than .001). Each of the seven rotorcraft services had a reduction in predicted mortality. The reduction was statistically significant (P less than .05) in five of the seven aeromedical services, or 86% of the total patient cohort. Hospital-based rotorcraft aeromedical emergency care services may reduce the expected mortality of blunt trauma patients treated at the site of injury.

Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation of the critically injured patient

Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation combined with endotracheal intubation, vigorous fluid resuscitation, and rapid transport can be effective in resuscitating trauma patients in cardiopulmonary arrest. Survival does not correlate with the injury severity score or transport time once the patient has arrested but does correlate with the mechanism of injury, endotracheal intubation, and placement of intravenous lines.