Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks

Abstract Background Early rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI) and tracheal intubation for patients with airway or ventilatory compromise following major trauma is recommended, with guidance suggesting a 45-min timeframe. Whilst on-scene RSI is recommended, the potential time benefit offere...

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Main Authors: Daniel Heritage, Joanne Griggs, Jack Barrett, Scott Clarke, Rory Carroll, Richard Lyon, Duncan Bootland
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-024-01313-y
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author Daniel Heritage
Joanne Griggs
Jack Barrett
Scott Clarke
Rory Carroll
Richard Lyon
Duncan Bootland
author_facet Daniel Heritage
Joanne Griggs
Jack Barrett
Scott Clarke
Rory Carroll
Richard Lyon
Duncan Bootland
author_sort Daniel Heritage
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Early rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI) and tracheal intubation for patients with airway or ventilatory compromise following major trauma is recommended, with guidance suggesting a 45-min timeframe. Whilst on-scene RSI is recommended, the potential time benefit offered by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) has not been studied. We compared the time from 999/112 emergency call to delivery of RSI between patients intubated either in the Emergency Department or pre-hospital by HEMS. Methods A retrospective observational cohort study of major trauma patients in South-East England who received a pre-hospital RSI (PHRSI) or Emergency Department RSI (EDRSI) between 2 January 2018 and 24 September 2019. Data were extracted from the UK Trauma Audit and Research Network database. The primary outcome was the time from emergency call to delivery of RSI. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 30-days or hospital discharge, time from arrival of service at hospital or scene to RSI, time from emergency call to Computerised Tomography scan, and conveyance interval. Linear regression was used to model time to RSI in both groups. Results Of 378 eligible patients, 209 patients met inclusion criteria. 103 received a PHRSI and 106 received an EDRSI. Most patients were male (n = 171, 82%) and the median age was 48 years (IQR 28–65). 94% sustained a blunt injury mechanism and head was the most injured body region for both cohorts (n = 134, 64%). 63% (n = 67) of patients receiving a PHRSI were conveyed by helicopter. PHRSI was delivered significantly earlier with a median of 64 [IQR 51–75] minutes (95% CI, 60–68) compared with EDRSI with a median of 84 [IQR 68–113] minutes (95% CI, 76–94), p < 0.001). Conclusion Major trauma patients who had a pre-hospital RSI received this time-critical intervention sooner after their injury than those who received an emergency anaesthetic after conveyance to a specialist hospital. Patient outcome benefit of HEMS delivered early RSI should be explored.
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spelling doaj-art-6a8c37b14b204527b95a09e24b5ffab02024-12-29T12:44:59ZengBMCScandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine1757-72412024-12-0132111110.1186/s13049-024-01313-yHelicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networksDaniel Heritage0Joanne Griggs1Jack Barrett2Scott Clarke3Rory Carroll4Richard Lyon5Duncan Bootland6University Hospital SussexAir Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, Redhill AerodromeAir Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, Redhill AerodromeAir Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, Redhill AerodromeSt George’s HospitalAir Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, Redhill AerodromeAir Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, Redhill AerodromeAbstract Background Early rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI) and tracheal intubation for patients with airway or ventilatory compromise following major trauma is recommended, with guidance suggesting a 45-min timeframe. Whilst on-scene RSI is recommended, the potential time benefit offered by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) has not been studied. We compared the time from 999/112 emergency call to delivery of RSI between patients intubated either in the Emergency Department or pre-hospital by HEMS. Methods A retrospective observational cohort study of major trauma patients in South-East England who received a pre-hospital RSI (PHRSI) or Emergency Department RSI (EDRSI) between 2 January 2018 and 24 September 2019. Data were extracted from the UK Trauma Audit and Research Network database. The primary outcome was the time from emergency call to delivery of RSI. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 30-days or hospital discharge, time from arrival of service at hospital or scene to RSI, time from emergency call to Computerised Tomography scan, and conveyance interval. Linear regression was used to model time to RSI in both groups. Results Of 378 eligible patients, 209 patients met inclusion criteria. 103 received a PHRSI and 106 received an EDRSI. Most patients were male (n = 171, 82%) and the median age was 48 years (IQR 28–65). 94% sustained a blunt injury mechanism and head was the most injured body region for both cohorts (n = 134, 64%). 63% (n = 67) of patients receiving a PHRSI were conveyed by helicopter. PHRSI was delivered significantly earlier with a median of 64 [IQR 51–75] minutes (95% CI, 60–68) compared with EDRSI with a median of 84 [IQR 68–113] minutes (95% CI, 76–94), p < 0.001). Conclusion Major trauma patients who had a pre-hospital RSI received this time-critical intervention sooner after their injury than those who received an emergency anaesthetic after conveyance to a specialist hospital. Patient outcome benefit of HEMS delivered early RSI should be explored.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-024-01313-yTraumaPre-hospitalAnaesthesiaHelicopter emergency medical services
spellingShingle Daniel Heritage
Joanne Griggs
Jack Barrett
Scott Clarke
Rory Carroll
Richard Lyon
Duncan Bootland
Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
Trauma
Pre-hospital
Anaesthesia
Helicopter emergency medical services
title Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
title_full Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
title_fullStr Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
title_full_unstemmed Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
title_short Helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
title_sort helicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks
topic Trauma
Pre-hospital
Anaesthesia
Helicopter emergency medical services
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-024-01313-y
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