Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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Background: The use of air ambulance to facilitate interfacility transfer has been associated with improved mortality; however, air ambulance is a limited resource and sometimes the optimal resource to transport a patient is unavailable. When a non-optimal resource is used there is an inherent delay and critically unwell patients may deteriorate as a result. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with non-optimal resource utilization for adult patients undergoing emergent interfacility transport by air ambulance in Ontario, Canada. ⋯ Optimal resource utilization did not significantly affect delta REMS (beta coefficient 0.002, p = 0.64). Conclusions: Patients who required mechanical ventilation and were transferred out from a nursing station had higher odds of non-optimal resource utilization while patients that required advanced or critical care level of care and spring season had lower odds of non-optimal resource use. Additionally, non-optimal resource use for air ambulance interfacility transfers did not result in patient deterioration as measured by a delta REMS score.
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Case Reports
Out Of Hospital Transesophageal Echocardiogram For Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation: The Initial Case.
Objective: The use of transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) during cardiac arrest in the emergency department (ED) is a newer concept. TEE provides dynamic evaluation of chest compressions and rhythm analysis. ⋯ Results: This case is a proof of concept that TEE can be successfully performed and contribute to clinical care of cardiac arrest in the out of hospital setting. Conclusion: Further research needs to be performed to determine the clinical benefit, indications, and curriculum for emergency providers to successfully deliver this potentially valuable resource prior to widespread adoption.
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Introduction: Hypothermia in severe trauma patients can increase mortality by 25%. Active warming practices decrease mortality and are recommended in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines. Despite this, many emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles do not carry equipment necessary to perform active warming. ⋯ Factors associated with higher risk of hypothermia include pre-MTC intubation, high ISS, multiple comorbidities, low SBP, non-penetrating mechanism of injury, and being transferred directly to MTC, and colder outdoor temperature. Avoidance of hypothermia is imperative to the management of major trauma patients. Prospective studies are required to determine if prehospital warming in these high-risk patients decreases the rate of hypothermia in major trauma and improves patient outcomes.
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Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia is a rare but often lethal genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people. It often first manifests as stress or exercise-related syncope or sudden unexplained cardiac death, primarily in the pediatric and young adult population. We present a case of a 6-year-old male who had a sudden unexplained prehospital cardiac arrest after being scared by a domestic animal and who presented in ventricular fibrillation. ⋯ During the course of care, medications with beta-1 and -2 agonist properties were administered, followed by multiple further episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF). Once these medications were discontinued and beta blockers were administered, the patient had no further episodes of PVT/VF and was subsequently discharged from hospital 7 days later, completely neurologically intact. This case suggests the need for caution when considering administering beta agonists in a pediatric cardiac arrest patient with no known history of heart disease who presents in VF or PVT after an incident of extreme stress or strenuous physical activity.
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Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes and behaviors of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics when faced with the decision to care for patients with suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and to illicit suggestions for improvement of infectious disease (ID) preparedness. Methods: A convenience sample of 22 EMT/Paramedics were recruited from an emergency department at one of the designated Ebola centers. Each provider participated in one of three on-site focus groups. ⋯ Suggestions for improvement of ID preparedness included continuing education, tiered training models, peer training models, collaboration between emergency medical services (EMS) systems, better communication between departments, and the development of an infectious disease response team. Conclusions: Although first responders were excited to be a part of the response to EVD, this did not come without hesitation and emotional distress. Some of these concerns may be mitigated by first providing a clear definition of "duty to care," followed by interventions such as the development of clear and consistent ID preparedness training and interventions that address the emotional distress experienced by these providers.