Emergency reflex action drill for traumatic cardiac arrest in a simulated pre-hospital setting; a one-group pre-post intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Reflex Action Drills (ERADs) are meant to decrease stress-associated cognitive demand in high urgency situations. The aim of this study was to develop and test an ERAD for witnessed traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA), an event in which potentially reversible causes need to be systematically addressed and treated in a short period of time. We hypothesize that this ERAD (the TCA-Drill) helps ground Emergency Medical Services (EMS) nurses in overcoming performance decline during this specific high-pressure situation. METHODS: This was a prospective, experimental one-group pre-post intervention study. Ground EMS nurses participated in a session of four simulated scenarios, with an in-between educational session to teach the TCA-Drill. Scenarios were video recorded, after which adherence and time differences were analyzed. Self-confidence on clinical practice was measured before and after the scenarios. RESULTS: Twelve ground EMS nurses participated in this study. Overall median time to address reversible causes of TCA decreased significantly using the TCA-Drill (132 vs. 110 s; p = 0.030) compared with the conventional ALS strategy. More specifically, participants adhering to the TCA-Drill showed a significantly lower time needed for hemorrhage control (58 vs. 37 s; p = 0.012). Eight of 12 (67 %) ground EMS nurses performed the ERAD without protocol deviations. Reported self-confidence significantly increased on 11 of the 13 surveyed items. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an ERAD for TCA (the TCA-Drill) significantly reduces the time to address reversible causes for TCA without delaying chest compressions in a simulated environment and can be easily taught to ground EMS nurses and increases self-confidence. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: The use of an ERAD for TCA (the TCA-Drill can significantly reduce the time to address reversible causes for TCA without delaying chest compression. This drill can be easily taught to ground EMS nurses and increases their self-confidence in addressing TCA-patients.

Prehospital Echocardiography During Resuscitation Impacts Treatment in a Physician-Staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Service: an Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients in cardiac arrest must receive algorithm-based management such as basic life support and advanced (cardiac) life support. International guidelines dictate diagnosing and treating any factor that may have caused the arrest or may be complicating the resuscitation. Ultrasound may be of potential value in this process and can be used in a prehospital setting. The objective is to evaluate the use of prehospital ultrasound during traumatic and non-traumatic CPR and determine its impact on prehospital treatment decisions in a Dutch helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS). METHODS: We conducted an observational study in cardiac arrest patients, of any cause, in whom the Nijmegen HEMS performed CPR with concurrent echocardiography. The participating physicians had to adhere to Advanced Life Support protocols as per standard operating procedure. Simultaneous with the interruptions of chest compressions to allow for heart rhythm analysis, ultrasound-trained HEMS physicians performed echocardiography according to study protocol. The HEMS nurse and physician recorded patient data and data on impacted (supported or altered) patient treatment decisions. RESULTS: From February 2014 through November 2016, we included 56 patients who underwent 102 ultrasound examinations. Sixty-two (61%) ultrasound examinations impacted 78 treatment decisions in 49 patients (88%). The impacted treatment was related to termination of CPR in 32 (57%), fluid management (14%), drugs selection and doses (14%), and choice of destination hospital (5%). Causes of cardiac arrest included trauma (48%), cardiac (21%), medical (14%), asphyxia (9%), and other (7%). CONCLUSION: Prehospital echocardiography has an impact on patient treatment and may be a useful tool to support decision-making during CPR in a Dutch HEMS.

Evaluation of Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in transporting children.

OBJECTIVE: In the Netherlands, helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) function as an adjunct to paramedic ambulance service delivering hospital-level medical care to a prehospital location. The main goal of Dutch HEMS is to provide on-scene medical expertise and not primarily to serve as transport. The transportation of patients to specialized hospitals is sometimes mandatory, especially in cases of critically ill or wounded children. In the literature, no support can be found to support the safety of transportation by helicopter. We retrospectively evaluated the safety of this type of transportation and if any problems were encountered transporting children by helicopter. METHODS: We reviewed our local HEMS database for all children (, 16 years) transported by helicopter to a level 1 trauma center between January 2007 and December 2012. RESULTS: A total number of 430 patients were transported by helicopter to a hospital (0-87 years, mean 5 31.6 years). Of these patients, 83 (19%) were younger than 16 years (0-15.7 years, mean 5 6.6 years). Causes for HEMS transport in children varied, but the main groups were road traffic accidents (40%), cardiopulmonary arrests (15%), falls from height (12%), and horse riding accidents (7%). In the children group, 1 accidental extubation of the orotracheal tube was noted while lifting the patient (10 years old) into the helicopter. This was immediately noticed, and the patient was reintubated without complications. No further adverse events were encountered during transportation time. The accidental extubation is not a specific complication of helicopter transportation but is inextricably linked with moving severely injured and intubated patients/children. CONCLUSION: We conclude that transporting children by helicopter is a safe method of transportation for critically ill children to adequately equipped medical centers.