Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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Observational Study
A Continuous Quality Improvement Airway Program Results in Sustained Increases in Intubation Success.
Airway management is a critical skill for air medical providers, including the use of rapid sequence intubation (RSI) medications. Mediocre success rates and a high incidence of complications has challenged air medical providers to improve training and performance improvement efforts to improve clinical performance. ⋯ An integrated advanced airway management program was successful in improving RSI intubation performance in a large air medical company.
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Previous research conducted in November 2013 found there were a limited number of states and territories in the United States (US) that authorize emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency medical responders (EMRs) to administer opioid antagonists. Given the continued increase in the number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths, many states have changed their policies to authorize EMTs and EMRs to administer opioid antagonists. The goal of this study is to provide an updated description of policy on EMS licensure levels' authority to administer opioid antagonists for all 50 US states, the District of Columbia (DC), and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (PR). ⋯ 49 out of 52 US jurisdictions (50 states, DC, and PR) authorize all existing levels of EMS licensure levels to administer an opioid antagonist. Expanding access to this medication can save lives, especially in communities that have limited advanced life support coverage.
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Delayed sequence intubation (DSI) involves the administration of ketamine to facilitate adequate preoxygenation in the agitated patient. DSI was introduced into the Clinical Practice Guideline for Intensive Care Flight Paramedics in Victoria in late 2013. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients receiving DSI. ⋯ DSI provides a reasonably safe and effective approach for intensive care flight paramedics in the preoxygenation of agitated, hypoxic patients in order to decrease the risk of peri-intubation desaturation and related hypoxic injury.
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Dexamethasone is frequently used in the treatment of allergic reactions and airway inflammation because of its potent anti-inflammatory effects and long duration of action. As prehospital use becomes more common, it is important for providers to be aware of unique and potentially distressing associated adverse effects. We report eight cases of intravenous dexamethasone administration associated with perineal or diffuse burning sensation in female patients.
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Hemorrhage is the leading cause of death on the battlefield. Development of chitosan- and kaolin-based hemostatic agents has improved hemorrhage control options. Sparse data exists on the use of these agents in the prehospital, combat setting. We describe recent use of these agents and compare patients receiving hemostatic to the baseline population. ⋯ Hemostatic agents were infrequently utilized to manage traumatic hemorrhage during the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hemostatic agent use was more frequent in casualties with gunshot wounds, traumatic amputations, concomitant tourniquet application, and greater blood product administration."