Safety of intranasal fentanyl in the out-of-hospital setting: a prospective observational study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Initial out-of-hospital analgesia is sometimes hampered by difficulties in achieving intravenous access or lack of skills in administering intravenous opioids. We study the safety profile and apparent analgesic effect of intranasal fentanyl in the out-of-hospital setting. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we administered intranasal fentanyl in the out-of-hospital setting to adults and children older than 8 years with severe pain resulting from orthopedic conditions, abdominal pain, or acute coronary syndrome refractory to nitroglycerin spray. Patients received 1 to 3 doses of either 50 or 100 µg, and the ambulance crew recorded adverse effects and numeric rating scale (0 to 10) pain scores before and after treatment. RESULTS: Our 903 evaluable patients received a mean cumulative fentanyl dose of 114 µg (range 50 to 300 µg). There were no serious adverse effects and no use of naloxone. Thirty-six patients (4%) experienced mild adverse effects: mild hypotension, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, abdominal pain, rash, or decrease of Glasgow Coma Scale score to 14. The median reduction in pain score was 3 (interquartile range 2 to 5) after fentanyl administration. CONCLUSION: The out-of-hospital administration of intranasal fentanyl in doses of 50 to 100 µg is safe and appears effective.

Search and rescue helicopter-assisted transfer of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients from an island in the Baltic Sea: results from over 100 rescue missions.

BACKGROUND: Since 2005, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients from the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea have been transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) by an airborne service. We describe the result of pPCI as part of the Danish national reperfusion strategy offered to a remote island population. METHODS: In this observational study, patients from Bornholm (n=101) were compared with patients from the mainland (Zealand) (n=2495), who were grouped according to time intervals (<120, 121-180, >180 min). The primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day mortality. Individual-level data from the Central Population Registry provided outcome that was linked to our inhospital PCI database. RESULTS: Treatment delay was longer in patients from Bornholm (349 min (IQR 267-446)) vs Zealand (211 (IQR 150-315)) (p<0.001). In patients from Zealand, 30-day mortality did not increase with time intervals (p=0.176), whereas, long-term mortality did (∼3 years) (p=0.007). Thirty-day mortality was similar for Bornholm and the overall Zealand group (5.9% vs 6.2% p=0.955). Early presenters (<180 min) from Zealand (37%) had similar 30-day (5.3% vs 5.9% p=0.789), but numerically reduced long-term mortality compared with Bornholm (12.8% vs 15.8% p=0.387). Age, female gender, diabetes, Killipclass >2 and preprocedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow 0/1 independently predicted 30-day mortality, however, treatment delay did not. Postprocedural TIMI flow 3 predicted improved survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this small population of STEMI patients from a remote island, airborne transfer appears feasible and safe, and their 30-day mortality after pPCI comparable with that of the mainland population despite inherent reperfusion delay exceeding guidelines.

Health care system delay and heart failure in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention: follow-up of population-based medical registry data.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), delay between contact with the health care system and initiation of reperfusion therapy (system delay) is associated with mortality, but data on the associated risk for congestive heart failure (CHF) among survivors are limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between system delay and the risk for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with STEMI. DESIGN: Historical follow-up study using population-based medical registries. SETTING: Western Denmark. PATIENTS: Patients with STEMI who were transported by emergency medical service from 1 January 1999 to 7 February 2010 and treated with PPCI within 12 hours of symptom onset and who had a system delay of 6 hours or less (n = 7952). The median duration of follow-up was 3.1 years. MEASUREMENTS: Cumulative incidence of readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF was determined by using competing-risk regression analysis, with death as the competing risk. Crude and adjusted cause-specific hazard ratios for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF were determined for system delay and other covariates. RESULTS: System delays of 60 minutes or less (n = 451), 61 to 120 minutes (n = 3457), 121 to 180 minutes (n = 2655), and 181 to 360 minutes (n = 1389) corresponded with long-term risks for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF of 10.1%, 10.6%, 12.3%, and 14.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, system delay was an independent predictor of readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF (adjusted hazard ratio per hour increase in delay, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.17]). LIMITATION: In any nonrandomized study, there are risks for selection bias and residual confounding. CONCLUSION: In patients with STEMI, shorter delay to PPCI is associated with lower risk for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF during follow-up.

Urban and rural implementation of pre-hospital diagnosis and direct referral for primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The distance to primary PCI centres and the inherent time delay in delivering primary PCI, however, limit widespread use of this treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pre-hospital diagnosis on time from emergency medical services contact to balloon inflation (system delay) in an unselected cohort of patients with STEMI recruited from a large geographical area comprising both urban and rural districts. METHODS AND RESULTS: From February 2004 until January 2007, data on pre-hospital timing and transport distance were prospectively recorded. Patients were divided into groups depending on achievement of pre-hospital diagnosis and/or direct referral to a primary PCI centre. Seven hundred and fifty-nine consecutive STEMI patients were included. In patients with a pre-hospital diagnosis and direct referral, the system delay was 92 vs. 153 min in patients without pre-hospital diagnosis (P < 0.001). Patients from rural areas were transported a median of 30 km longer than patients from urban areas; however, this prolonged the system delay by only 9 min. CONCLUSION: Pre-hospital electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnosis and direct referral for primary PCI enables STEMI patients living far from a PCI centre to achieve a system delay comparable with patients living in close vicinity of a PCI centre.

Remote ischaemic conditioning before hospital admission, as a complement to angioplasty, and effect on myocardial salvage in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic preconditioning attenuates cardiac injury at elective surgery and angioplasty. We tested the hypothesis that remote ischaemic conditioning during evolving ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and done before primary percutaneous coronary intervention, increases myocardial salvage. METHODS: 333 consecutive adult patients with a suspected first acute myocardial infarction were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio by computerised block randomisation to receive primary percutaneous coronary intervention with (n=166 patients) versus without (n=167) remote conditioning (intermittent arm ischaemia through four cycles of 5-min inflation and 5-min deflation of a blood-pressure cuff). Allocation was concealed with opaque sealed envelopes. Patients received remote conditioning during transport to hospital, and primary percutaneous coronary intervention in hospital. The primary endpoint was myocardial salvage index at 30 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, measured by myocardial perfusion imaging as the proportion of the area at risk salvaged by treatment; analysis was per protocol. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00435266. FINDINGS: 82 patients were excluded on arrival at hospital because they did not meet inclusion criteria, 32 were lost to follow-up, and 77 did not complete the follow-up with data for salvage index. Median salvage index was 0.75 (IQR 0.50-0.93, n=73) in the remote conditioning group versus 0.55 (0.35-0.88, n=69) in the control group, with median difference of 0.10 (95% CI 0.01-0.22; p=0.0333); mean salvage index was 0.69 (SD 0.27) versus 0.57 (0.26), with mean difference of 0.12 (95% CI 0.01-0.21; p=0.0333). Major adverse coronary events were death (n=3 per group), reinfarction (n=1 per group), and heart failure (n=3 per group). INTERPRETATION: Remote ischaemic conditioning before hospital admission increases myocardial salvage, and has a favourable safety profile. Our findings merit a larger trial to establish the effect of remote conditioning on clinical outcomes. FUNDING: Fondation Leducq.

System delay and mortality among patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

CONTEXT: Timely reperfusion therapy is recommended for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and door-to-balloon delay has been proposed as a performance measure in triaging patients for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, focusing on the time from first contact with the health care system to the initiation of reperfusion therapy (system delay) may be more relevant, because it constitutes the total time to reperfusion modifiable by the health care system. No previous studies have focused on the association between system delay and outcome in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations between system, treatment, patient, and door-to-balloon delays and mortality in patients with STEMI. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Historical follow-up study based on population-based Danish medical registries of patients with STEMI transported by the emergency medical service and treated with primary PCI from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2008, at 3 high-volume PCI centers in Western Denmark. Patients (N = 6209) underwent primary PCI within 12 hours of symptom onset. The median follow-up time was 3.4 (interquartile range, 1.8-5.2) years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Crude and adjusted hazard ratios of mortality obtained by Cox proportional regression analysis. RESULTS: A system delay of 0 through 60 minutes (n = 347) corresponded to a long-term mortality rate of 15.4% (n = 43); a delay of 61 through 120 minutes (n = 2643) to a rate of 23.3% (n = 380); a delay of 121 through 180 minutes (n = 2092) to a rate of 28.1% (n = 378); and a delay of 181 through 360 minutes (n = 1127) to a rate of 30.8% (n = 275) (P < .001). In multivariable analysis adjusted for other predictors of mortality, system delay was independently associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.10 [95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.16] per 1-hour delay), as was its components, prehospital system delay and door-to-balloon delay. CONCLUSION: System delay was associated with mortality in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI.

Effect on treatment delay of prehospital teletransmission of 12-lead electrocardiogram to a cardiologist for immediate triage and direct referral of patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction to primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission to hospitals was shown to reduce time to treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, new technologies allow transmission directly to a mobile unit so an attending physician can respond irrespective of presence within or outside the hospital. The primary study purpose was to determine whether delays could be decreased in an urban area by transmitting a prehospital 12-lead ECG directly to the attending cardiologist's mobile telephone for rapid triage and transport to a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) center, bypassing local hospitals and emergency departments. A secondary purpose was to describe whether transport would be safe despite longer transport times. During a 2-year period, patients with acute nontraumatic chest pain had their prehospital ECG transmitted directly to a cardiologist's mobile telephone. Time to treatment was compared with historic controls. After ECG evaluation, 168 patients (30%) were referred directly for PCI, and 146 of these (87%) underwent emergent catheterization. In referred patients, median time from 911 call to PCI was significantly shorter than in the control group (74 vs 127 minutes; p <0.001). Accordingly, door-to-PCI time was 63 minutes shorter for referred patients versus controls (34 vs 97 minutes; p <0.001). During transport, 7 patients (4%) experienced ventricular fibrillation; 3 patients (2%), ventricular tachycardia; and 1 patient (0.5%), pulseless electrical activity, including 2 deaths (1%) caused by treatment-resistant arrhythmia. In conclusion, transmission of a prehospital 12-lead ECG directly to the attending cardiologist's mobile telephone decreased door-to-PCI time by >1 hour when patients were transported directly to PCI centers, bypassing local hospitals. Ambulance transport seems safe despite longer transport times.

Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest before and after introduction of a mechanical chest compression device, LUCAS-2; a prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical chest compressions have been proposed to provide high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but despite the growing use of mechanical chest compression devices, only few studies have addressed their impact on CPR quality. This study aims to evaluate mechanical chest compressions provided by LUCAS-2 (Lund University Cardiac Assist System) compared with manual chest compression in a cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases. METHODS: In this prospective study conducted in the Central Denmark Region, Denmark, the emergency medical service attempted resuscitation and reported data on 696 non-traumatic OHCA patients between April 2011 and February 2013. Of these, 155 were treated with LUCAS CPR after an episode with manual CPR. The CPR quality was evaluated using transthoracic impedance measurements collected from the LIFEPAK 12 defibrillator, and the effect was assessed in terms of chest compression rate, no-flow time and no-flow fraction; the fraction of time during resuscitation in which the patient is without spontaneous circulation receiving no chest compression. RESULTS: The median total episode duration was 21 minutes, and the episode with LUCAS CPR was significantly longer than the manual CPR episode, 13 minutes vs. 5 minutes, p < 0.001. The no-flow fraction was significantly lower during LUCAS CPR (16%) than during manual CPR (35%); difference 19% (95% CI: 16% to 21%; p < 0.001). No differences were found in pre- and post-shock no-flow time throughout manual CPR and LUCAS CPR. Contrary to the manual CPR, the average compression rate during LUCAS CPR was in conformity with the current Guidelines for Resuscitation, 102/minute vs. 124/minute, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Mechanical chest compressions provided by the LUCAS device improve CPR quality by significantly reducing the NFF and by improving the quality of chest compression compared with manual CPR during OHCA resuscitation. However, data on end-tidal Co2 and chest compression depth surrogate parameters of CPR quality could not be reported.

Impact of health care system delay in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction on return to labor market and work retirement.

System delay (delay from emergency medical service call to reperfusion with primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PPCI]) is acknowledged as a performance measure in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as shorter system delay is associated with lower mortality. It is unknown whether system delay also impacts ability to stay in the labor market. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate whether system delay is associated with duration of absence from work or time to retirement from work among patients with STEMI treated with PPCI. We conducted a population-based cohort study including patients ≤67 years of age who were admitted with STEMI from January 1, 1999, to December 1, 2011 and treated with PPCI. Data were derived from Danish population-based registries. Only patients who were full- or part-time employed before their STEMI admission were included. Association between system delay and time to return to the labor market was analyzed using a competing-risk regression analysis. Association between system delay and time to retirement from work was analyzed using a Cox regression model. A total of 4,061 patients were included. Ninety-three percent returned to the labor market during 4 years of follow-up, and 41% retired during 8 years of follow-up. After adjustment, system delay >120 minutes was associated with reduced resumption of work (subhazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.81 to 0.92) and earlier retirement from work (hazard ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.36). In conclusion, system delay was associated with reduced work resumption and earlier retirement. This highlights the value of system delay as a performance measure in treating patients with STEMI.

Prehospital troponin T testing in the diagnosis and triage of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction.

Prehospital electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnosis has improved triage and outcome in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. However, many patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) present with equivocal ECG patterns making prehospital ECG diagnosis difficult. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and ability of prehospital troponin T (TnT) testing to improve diagnosis in patients with chest pain transported by ambulance. From June 2008 through September 2009, patients from the central Denmark region with suspected AMI and transported by ambulance were eligible for prehospital TnT testing with a qualitative point-of-care test (cutpoint 0.10 ng/ml). Quantitative TnT was measured at hospital arrival and after 8 and 24 hours (cutpoint 0.03 ng/ml). A prehospital electrocardiogram was recorded in all patients. Prehospital TnT testing was attempted in 958 patients with a 97% success rate. In 258 patients, in-hospital TnT values were increased (≥0.03 ng/ml) during admission. The prehospital test identified 26% and the first in-hospital test detected 81% of patients with increased TnT measurements during admission. A diagnosis of AMI was established in 208 of 258 patients with increased TnT. The prehospital test identified 30% of these patients, whereas the first in-hospital test detected 79%. Median times from symptom onset to blood sampling were 83 minutes (46 to 167) for the prehospital sample and 165 minutes (110 to 276) for the admission sample. In conclusion, prehospital TnT testing is feasible with a high success rate. This study indicates that prehospital implementation of quantitative tests, with lower detection limits, could identify most patients with AMI irrespective of ECG changes.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention as a national reperfusion strategy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: In Denmark, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was chosen as a national reperfusion strategy for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in 2003. This study describes the temporal implementation of PPCI in Western Denmark, the gradual introduction of field triage for PPCI (patients rerouted from the scene of the event directly to the invasive center), and the associated outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population comprised 9514 patients treated with PPCI from 1999 to 2009 with symptom duration ≤12 hours and either a delay from the emergency medical service (EMS) call to PPCI (healthcare system delay) of ≤6 hours or as self-presenters. The median follow-up time was 3.7 years. The number of patients treated with PPCI increased from 190 in 1999 to 1212 in 2009. Among patients transported by the EMS from the scene of the event, the proportion who were field triaged directly to a PCI center increased from 33% (34/103) to 72% (616/851, P<0.001). Patients who were field triaged had lower long-term mortality, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of 1.26 (1.12-1.43) among patients transported by the EMS to a local hospital and then transferred, 1.28 (1.10-1.49) among patients self-presenting at a local hospital and then transferred, and 1.37 (1.18-1.58) among patients self-presenting at a PCI center. CONCLUSIONS: A reperfusion strategy with PPCI only for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was successfully implemented in Western Denmark, and the majority of patients transported by the EMS are now triaged directly to the PPCI centers. This strategy is associated with lower mortality.

Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is hampered by interruptions in chest compressions--a nationwide prospective feasibility study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical determinant of outcome following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of CPR provided by emergency medical service providers (Basic Life Support (BLS) capability) and emergency medical service providers assisted by paramedics, nurse anesthetists or physician-manned ambulances (Advanced Life Support (ALS) capability) in a nationwide, unselected cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with non-traumatic etiology (>18 years of age) occurring from the 1st to the 31st of January 2009 and treated by the primary Danish emergency medical service operator, covering approximately 85% of the population. One hundred and ninety-one cases were eligible for analysis. Follow-up was up to one year or death. Quality of CPR was evaluated using measurements of transthoracic impedance. RESULTS: The majority of patients were treated by ambulances with ALS capability (54%). Interruptions in CPR related to loading of the patient into the emergency medical service vehicle were substantial, but independent of whether patients were managed by ALS or BLS capable units (222s versus 224s, P = 0.76) as were duration of interruptions during rhythm analysis alone (20s versus 22s, P = 0.33) and defibrillation (24s versus 26s, P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Nationwide, routine monitoring of transthoracic impedance is feasible. CPR is hampered by extended interruptions, particularly during loading of the patient into the emergency medical service vehicle, rhythm analysis and defibrillation.

[Disease outbreak monitoring system based on ambulance transport data]. / Monitorering af sygdomsudbrud på basis af akutte medicinske ambulancekørsler.

INTRODUCTION: Disease outbreak monitoring is relevant not only for naturally occurring diseases but also for detecting a biological terror event. Surveillance systems are already operational in Denmark, but none of these has the high update frequencies necessary for early warning, and the majority monitor specific infectious diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An early-warning system for detection of disease outbreaks in Denmark based on ambulance transport frequency was developed and tested employing a biological outbreak scenario. RESULTS: The system, termed "Bioalarm", demonstrated an ability to adapt to minor statistical variations due to, e.g., mild influenza epidemics and at the same time to elicit an early warning in the event of a outbreak consistent with a bioterrorist attack. CONCLUSION: Bioalarm not only is relevant for early warning of a disease outbreak as a result of a biological attack but also facilitates early detection of naturally occurring outbreaks.