Articles: emergency-medical-services.
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Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a form of intensive life support that has seen increasing use globally to improve outcomes for patients who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Hospitals with advanced critical care capabilities may be interested in launching an ECPR program to offer this support to the patients they serve; however, to do so, they must first consider the significant investment of resources necessary to start and sustain the program. The existing literature describes many single-center ECPR programs and often focuses on inpatient care and patient outcomes in hospitals with cardiac surgery capabilities. ⋯ We focus on emergency medical services and ED clinician roles in identifying patients, mobilizing resources, initiation and management of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in the ED, and ongoing efforts to improve ECPR program quality. Each center experienced a significant learning curve to reach goals of arrest-to-flow times of cannulation for ECPR. Building consensus from multidisciplinary stakeholders, including out-of-hospital stakeholders; establishing shared expectations of ECPR outcomes; and ensuring adequate resource support for ECPR activation were all key lessons in improving our ECPR programs.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2024
Helicopter emergency medical services in Iceland between 2018 and 2022-A retrospective study.
Helicopter emergency services (HEMS) are widely used to bring medical assistance to individuals that cannot be reached by other means or individuals that have time-critical medical conditions, such as chest pain, stroke or severe trauma. It is a very expensive resource whose use and importance depends on local conditions. The aim of this study was to describe flight and patient characteristics in all HEMS flights done in Iceland, a geographically isolated, mountainous and sparsely populated country, over a 5-year course. ⋯ In Iceland, the number of transports is lower but activation and flight times for HEMS flights are considerably longer than in other Nordic countries, likely due to geographical features and the structure of the service including utilizing helicopters both for HEMS and search and rescue operations. The transport times for some time-sensitive conditions are not within standards set by international studies and guidelines.
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Pelvic fractures are severe traumatic injuries often accompanied by potentially fatal massive bleeding. Rapid control of hemorrhages in prehospital emergency settings is critical for improving outcomes in traumatic bleeding. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a promising technique for controlling active bleeding from pelvic fractures. ⋯ This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the initial management of noncompressive trunk hemorrhage caused by pelvic fractures, introduces the technical principles and developments of REBOA, and explores its extensive application in prehospital emergency care. It delves into the operational details and outlines strategies for effectively managing potential complications. We aim to offer a theoretical framework for the future utilization of REBOA in managing uncontrollable hemorrhage associated with pelvic fractures in prehospital emergencies.
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2024
Prehospital Clinical Decision-Making for Medication Administration for Behavioral Emergencies.
Introduction. Prehospital behavioral emergency protocols provide guidance on when a medication may be necessary; however, the final decision of which medication to administer to a patient is made independently by paramedics. This study sought to describe the clinical decision-making process of prehospital behavioral emergencies when paramedics consider chemical restraints, and determine the factors associated with choosing specific medications to administer. ⋯ Conclusion. This study suggests there are several factors, such as safety and the etiology of the behavioral emergency, that contributed to paramedics' decision-making. The results of this study could help Emergency Medical Services administrators in revising behavioral emergency protocols.
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2024
Emergency Medical Services Personnel Compliance with Escalating Airway Algorithm Protocol.
Introduction. When emergency medical services (EMS) personnel respond to emergencies, the decisions they make often can mean life or death for the patient. This is especially true in the case of advanced airway management. ⋯ Our data showed that EMS personnel in Sedgwick County/Wichita, Kansas often deviated from the advanced airway management protocols when caring for patients in need of respiratory intervention. Dirty airway was the main reason for using a more invasive approach in achieving the goals of appropriate oxygenation and ventilation. It is important to understand reasons why deviations in protocol were occurring to ensure that current protocols, documentation, and training practices are effective in producing the best possible patient outcomes.