Best Practices and Current Care Concepts in Prehospital Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete in American Tackle Football March 2-3, 2019; Atlanta, GA.

Sport-related spine injury can be devastating and have long-lasting effects on athletes and their families. Providing evidence-based care for patients with spine injury is essential for optimizing postinjury outcomes. When caring for an injured athlete in American tackle football, clinicians must make decisions that involve unique challenges related to protective equipment (eg, helmet and shoulder pads). The Spine Injury in Sport Group (SISG) met in Atlanta, Georgia, March 2-3, 2019, and involved 25 health care professionals with expertise in emergency medicine, sports medicine, neurologic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurology, physiatry, athletic training, and research to review the current literature and discuss evidence-based medicine, best practices, and care options available for the prehospital treatment of athletes with suspected cervical spine injuries.1,2 That meeting and the subsequent Mills et al publication delineate the quality and quantity of published evidence regarding many aspects of prehospital care for the athlete with a suspected cervical spine injury. This paper offers a practical treatment guide based on the experience of those who attended the Atlanta meeting as well as the evidence presented in the Mills et al article. Ongoing research will help to further advance clinical treatment recommendations.

Use of ketamine for prehospital pain control on the battlefield: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous ketamine is commonly used for pain management in the civilian prehospital setting. Several studies have evaluated its effectiveness in the military setting. To date, there has been no report reviewing the published data on the use of ketamine in this context. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the content and quality of published data on the use of ketamine for prehospital pain management in military trauma. METHODS: The MEDLINE database was searched for studies on ketamine use in combat prehospital settings, at point of injury or during evacuation, published between 2000 and 2019. The systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019115728). Civilian reports and case series lacking systematic data collection were excluded. RESULTS: Eight studies were included with 2029 casualties receiving ketamine. All but one were American reports from Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. Studies implied retrospective cohorts or prospective observational analysis. Ketamine use rose from 3.9% during the period preceding its addition to the Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines in 2012 to 19.8% thereafter. It was the most common analgesic administered (up to 52% of casualties) in one of the studies. Ketamine was more likely given during tactical medical evacuation when no analgesic was provided at the point of injury. The median total intravenous dose was 50 mg. Pain intensity decreased from moderate or severe to mild or none, sometimes after only one dose. In one study, ketamine administration during tactical evacuation was associated with increased systolic blood pressure as opposed to morphine. Incoherent speech, extremity movements, and hallucinations were the main adverse events reported. CONCLUSION: Published data on ketamine use in military trauma are rare and heterogeneous. Though, all studies tend to strengthen the belief in the efficacy and safety of ketamine when given at 50-mg to 100-mg intravenous for prehospital analgesia in combat casualties. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic Review, Level IV.

Knowledge of venomous snakes, snakebite first aid, treatment, and prevention among clinicians in northern Nigeria: a cross-sectional multicentre study.

Background: Snakebite envenoming causes considerable morbidity and mortality in northern Nigeria. The clinician's knowledge of snakebite impacts outcome. We assessed clinicians' knowledge of snakebite envenoming to highlight knowledge and practice gaps for possible intervention to improve snakebite outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicentre study of 374 doctors selected from the accident and emergency, internal medicine, family medicine/general outpatient, paediatrics and surgery departments of nine tertiary hospitals in northern Nigeria using a multistage sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess their sociodemographics, knowledge of common venomous snakes, snakebite first aid, snake antivenom treatment and prevention. Results: The respondents' mean age was 35.6±5.8 y. They were predominantly males (70.6%) from urban hospitals (71.9%), from the northwest region (35.3%), in family medicine/general outpatient departments (33.4%), of <10 years working experience (66.3%) and had previous experience in snakebite management (78.3%). Although their mean overall knowledge score was 70.2±12.6%, only 52.9% had an adequate overall knowledge score. Most had adequate knowledge of snakebite clinical features (62.3%), first aid (75.7%) and preventive measures (97.1%), but only 50.8% and 25.1% had adequate knowledge of snake species that caused most injuries/deaths and anti-snake venom treatment, respectively. Overall knowledge predictors were ≥10 y working experience (odd ratio [OR] 1.72 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.07 to 2.76]), urban hospital setting (OR 0.58 [95% CI 0.35 to 0.96]), surgery department (OR 0.44 [95% CI 0.24 to 0.81]), northwest/north-central region (OR 2.36 [95% CI 1.46 to 3.82]) and previous experience in snakebite management (OR 2.55 [95% CI 1.49 to 4.36]). Conclusions: Overall knowledge was low. Improvements in overall knowledge may require clinicians' exposure to snakebite management and training of accident and emergency clinicians in the region.

Water First Aid Is Beneficial In Humans Post-Burn: Evidence from a Bi-National Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Reported first aid application, frequency and practices around the world vary greatly. Based primarily on animal and observational studies, first aid after a burn injury is considered to be integral in reducing scar and infection, and the need for surgery. The current recommendation for optimum first aid after burn is water cooling for 20 minutes within three hours. However, compliance with this guideline is reported as poor to moderate at best and evidence exists to suggest that overcooling can be detrimental. This prospective cohort study of a bi-national burn patient registry examined data collected between 2009 and 2012. The aim of the study was to quantify the magnitude of effects of water cooling first aid after burn on indicators of burn severity in a large human cohort. METHOD: The data for the analysis was provided by the Burn Registry of Australia and New Zealand (BRANZ). The application of first aid cooling prior to admission to a dedicated burn service, was analysed for its influence on four outcomes related to injury severity. The patient related outcomes were whether graft surgery occurred, and death while the health system (cost) outcomes included total hospital length of stay and admission to ICU. Robust regression analysis using bootstrapped estimation adjusted using a propensity score was used to control for confounding and to estimate the strength of association with first aid. Dose-response relationships were examined to determine associations with duration of first aid. The influence of covariates on the impact of first aid was assessed. RESULTS: Cooling was provided before Burn Centre admission for 68% of patients, with at least twenty minutes duration for 46%. The results indicated a reduction in burn injury severity associated with first aid. Patients probability for graft surgery fell by 0.070 from 0.537 (13% reduction) (p = 0.014). The probability for ICU admission fell by 0.084 from 0.175 (48% reduction) (p<0.001) and hospital length of stay (LOS) fell by 2.27 days from 12.9 days (18% reduction) (p = 0.001). All outcomes except death showed a dose-response relationship with the duration of first aid. The size of burn and age interacted with many of the relationships between first aid and outcome and these are described and discussed. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there are significant patient and health system benefits from cooling water first aid, particularly if applied for up to 20 minutes. The results of this study estimate the effect size of post-burn first aid and confirm that efforts to promote first aid knowledge are not only warranted, but provide potential cost savings.

[The medical social aspects of ambulatory medical care to victims of road traffic accidents].

The article discusses the issues of the organization of medical care to victims of road traffic accidents. The analysis of primary appealability of patients to the first-aid center of Stavropol and Novorossiysk during 2008-2010 is presented. The sampling consisted of 904 cases of this kind of trauma. It is established that among victims of road traffic accident appealed to first-aid centers the pedestrians consist the major part. The traumas of limbs are among the most frequently occurred cases. The victims with cranio-cerebral injuries are among those who appealed most frequently for medical aid. Besides that in most cases (63.4%) the victims with cranio-cerebral injuries were transported not to the neurologic surgery clinic but to the first-aid center This action increased the number of transport stages and duration of time gap before specialized medical care was applied. The conclusion is made concerning the need of further development of out-patient urgent medical care to victims of road traffic accidents.

O leigo em situação de emergência / The layperson in emergency situation / Personas imperitas en situación de emergencia

A capacitação do leigo para atendimento precoce em situações de emergência e instituição do suporte básico de vida (SBV) é fundamental para salvar vidas e prevenir seqüelas. O objetivo foi identificar o nível de informação dos leigos sobre abordagem de vítima em emergência. Utilizou-se entrevista estruturada em linguagem não-técnica. Amostra foi de 385 sujeitos, com idade média de 35,4 (± 14,55) anos, sendo que mais de 50 por cento cursaram ensino médio e superior. Mais de 55 por cento destes sujeitos observaram situações com perda da consciência. Destes, apenas 31 por cento chamaram socorro especializado. 34 por cento realizaram curso de primeiros socorros,mas apenas 13 por cento destes sentem-se preparados. O local mais citado foi o Curso de Formação de Condutores (CFC) 35,9 por cento. Outros locais de treinamento foram superiores ao comparar com CFC (p=0,048). Quase 17 por cento não sabem reconhecer presença de sinais de vida. Quase 31 por cento não conhecem o número telefônico do serviço de emergência. Os leigos possuem conhecimentos incompletos ou incorretos sobre atendimento às vítimas desacordadas.

The layperson's qualification to provide early care in emergency situations and basic life support (BLS) is fundamental to save lives and prevent sequels. The objective was to identify the level of knowledge of lay people about approaching an emergency victim. Structured interviews in non-technical language were used with a 385-subject sample, average age 35.4 (± 14.55) years, with more than 50 percent having a high school or university education. Over 55 percent of these observed situations with loss of consciousness, but only 31 percent called for specialized help. 34 percent underwent a first-aid course, but only 13 percent feel prepared. The most often cited place of learning was the driving school (DS), 35.9 percent. Other training places were higher when compared to the DS (p = 0.048). Almost 17 percent do not know how to recognize the presence of vital signs. Almost 31 percent do not know the telephone number of the emergency service. Laypersons have incomplete or incorrect knowledge about care for unconscious victims.

La capacitación de personas imperitas en la atención precoz de emergencias y el establecimiento del soporte básico de vida (SBV) es fundamental para salvar personas y prevenir secuelas. El objetivo fue identificar el nivel de información de personas imperitas en casos de emergencia. Se utilizó la entrevista estructurada sin lenguaje técnico. La muestra 385 sujetos, edad media 35.4 (± 14.55) años. Más del 50 por ciento tenían educación secundaria y superior. Más del 55 por ciento observaron casos de pérdida de conciencia. De ellos, solo el 31 por ciento llamaron al auxilio especializado, 34 por ciento realizaron curso de primeros auxilios, sin embargo solo el 13 por ciento se sienten preparados. El lugar más citado fue el Curso de Formación de Conductores (CFC) 35.9 por ciento, otros lugares fueron superiores al ser comparados con CFC (p=0,048). Aproximadamente 17 por ciento no reconocen signos de vida y casi el 31 por ciento desconocen el número telefónico del servicio de emergencia. Estas personas tienen conocimientos incompletos o incorrectos para casos de víctimas inconscientes.

Moving beyond personnel and process: a case for incorporating outcome measures in the trauma center designation process.

HYPOTHESIS: Similarly designated trauma centers do not achieve similar outcomes. DESIGN: Outcomes study. SETTING: Academic research. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven American College of Surgeons-verified level I trauma centers that contributed more than 1000 patients to the National Trauma Data Bank (from January 1999 to December 2003) were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were classified into the following 3 injury severity groups using a combination of anatomical and physiological measures: mild (Injury Severity Score [ISS] of <25 with systolic blood pressure [SBP] of >/=90 mm Hg [n = 184 650]), moderate (ISS of >/=25 with SBP of >/=90 mm Hg or ISS of <25 with SBP of <90 mm Hg [n = 22 586]), and severe (ISS of >/=25 with SBP of <90 mm Hg [n = 4243]). The mean survival for each group was calculated. Individual centers were considered outliers if their patient survival was statistically significantly different from the mean survival for each severity group. RESULTS: The mean survival of patients with mild, moderate, and severe injuries was 99%, 75%, and 35%, respectively. For mild injuries, survival at 5 centers (11%) was significantly worse than that at their counterpart centers. With increasing injury severity, the percentages of outcome disparities increased (15% of centers for moderate injuries and 21% of centers for severe injuries) and persisted in subgroups of patients with head injuries, patients sustaining penetrating injuries, and older (>55 years) individuals. CONCLUSIONS: When treating patients with similar injury severity, similarly designated level I trauma centers may not achieve similar outcomes, suggesting the existence of a quality chasm in trauma care. Trauma center verification may require the use of outcome measures when determining trauma center status.

[Medico-legal problems of providing first aid]. / Prawno-medyczne problemy udzielania pierwszej pomocy.

The paper presents medico-legal problems associated with providing assistance to victims of traffic accidents. Legal acts have been analyzed in the aspect of help provision. Inconsistencies, and even divergences between individual regulations of the legal acts have been demonstrated. Particular attention has been paid to circumstances of providing emergency assistance, its scope, and situations when the obligation of providing first aid is no longer binding. The problem of provision or refusal to provide help seems--according to the authors--to be valid, since not all relevant legal regulations are generally known.

Análise do impacto do programa ATLS (R) (advanced trauma life support (R)) no atendimento do traumatizado em cidade de pequeno porte no Brasil / Analysis of the impact of the ATLS (advanced trauma life support) program on trauma care in a small size city in Brasil

Introdução: o Programa ATLS foi desenvolvido nos EUA na década de 70, visando estabelecer um método padronizado para avaliação e tratamento iniciais dos pacientes vítimas de trauma pelos médicos que trabalham nas unidades de emergência. Hoje, apesar do sucesso e de sua ampla disseminação internacional, os benefícios do Programa em relação à modificação dos índices de mortalidade das vítimas de trauma ainda não foram largamente comprovados. Objetivos: o objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a efetividade do Programa ATLS no atendimento do traumatizado em cidade de pequeno porte do Brasil, analisando seu impacto sobre os índices de mortalidade, sobre o tempo de internação e sobre a realização de determinados procedimentos diagnósticos e terapêuticos. Métodos: no período compreendido entre 01 de Janeiro de 2003 e 31 de Dezembro de 2005, foram analisados 240 pacientes, vítimas de trauma, atendidos em hospital universitário de cidade de pequeno porte no Brasil, com RTS "Revised Trauma Score" - Escore Revisado de Trauma <6,62, subdivididos em duas amostras: grupo pré-ATLS (120 pacientes) - quando não havia protocolo específico para atendimento ao trauma, e grupo pós-ATLS (120 pacientes) - após a implantação do programa. Resultados: Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na mortalidade, com redução média de 17% no grupo pós-ATLS. Também foi constatado, no grupo pós-ATLS, aumento estatisticamente significativo da mortalidade após 24 horas da chegada do paciente ao hospital. Quanto ao tempo de internação, não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: a implantação do programa ATLS reduziu o índice de mortalidade global atestando efetividade no atendimento ao trauma.

Introduction: the ATLS Program was developed in U.S.A. in the decade of 70, aiming to provide a standardized method for initial evaluation and management of the trauma patient for the doctors that work at the emergency room. Today, despite the success and of its ample international dissemination, the impact of the benefits of the Program on trauma care has not been wide scientifically proven. Objectives: the objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the ATLS Program in the management of trauma patients in a small size city of Brasil, studying the real impact on the mortality index, the time of hospital stay and the accomplishment of determined diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Methods: starting on January 01, 2003 and ending on December 31, 2005, 240 trauma victims were studied at the university hospital of a small size city of Brasil, with RTS (Revised Trauma Score) < 6.62, subdivided in two samples: group pre-ATLS (120 patients) - when there was no specific protocol for trauma care, and group post-ATLS (120 patients) - after the implementation of the program. Results: It had statistical significant difference in mortality, with average reduction of 17% in the group post-ATLS. Also it was evidenced, in the group after-ATLS, statistical significant increase of mortality after 24 hours of the arrival of the patient to the hospital. Concerning the length of hospital stay, there was no statistical significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: the implementation of the ATLS program reduced the index of global mortality certifying effectiveness in the management of the trauma patient.

Prehospital pediatric trauma classification (PHPTC) as a tool for optimizing trauma care resources in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o atendimento pré-hospitalar de crianças e adolescentes em São Paulo, avaliar o banco de dados das Unidades de Suporte Básico (UR) e Avançado (USA) e propor um método simples e eficaz para a avaliação da gravidade do trauma pediátrico na fase pré-hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Uma única central do Corpo de Bombeiros (COBOM) coordena todo o atendimento pré-hospitalar em São Paulo. Dois bancos de dados foram analisados para crianças de 0 a 18 anos de idade, entre 1998 e 2001: um das Unidades de Suporte Básico de Vida (UR- bombeiros) e outra de Unidades de Suporte Avançado (USA - médico e bombeiros). Neste período, o Serviço de Atendimento Médico de Urgência do Estado de São Paulo (SAMU) forneceu relatórios médicos de 604 vítimas, enquanto os bombeiros forneceram relatórios de 12.761 vitimas (UR+USA). A classificação do trauma pré-hospitalar pediátrico é baseada na condição fisiológica, mecanismo de trauma e lesões anatômicas das vítimas. A classificação do trauma pré-hospitalar pediátrico foi comparada à Escala de Coma de Glasgow (GCS) e ao Escore de Trauma Revisado (RTS). RESULTADOS: Houve predominância do sexo masculino em ambos bancos de dados. O mecanismo de trauma mais freqüente foi relacionado a transporte, seguido de quedas. A mortalidade foi 1,6% nas Unidades Básicas e 9,6% no Suporte Avançado. Houve associação entre a classificação do trauma pré-hospitalar pediátrico, Escala de Coma de Glasgow (GCS) e ao Escore de Trauma Revisado (RTS) GCS e RTS (p<0,0001). CONCLUSAO: A classificação do trauma pré-hospitalar pediátrico é um método simples e confiável para a avaliação, triagem e recrutamento de recursos para o atendimento pré-hospitalar do trauma pediátrico.

Burn first aid in Western Australia--do healthcare workers have the knowledge?

Burn injuries treated with adequate immediate first aid are associated with more favourable outcomes, limiting tissue damage and subsequent morbidity including the need for surgery. Cool running water at a temperature of between 10-15 degrees C for 20 to 30 minutes is considered adequate burn first aid treatment. A prospective audit of all new patients (n=227) with burns, attending the minor burn facility at Royal Perth Hospital showed only 88 (39%) patients received appropriate first aid. Fifty percent of patients receiving inappropriate first aid, had this delivered by his or her primary health care contact. This study aims to determine the knowledge of burns first aid among healthcare workers (HCW) and compare this to the general population. A customized survey was performed, four sample cases were included with 4 possible answers in a multiple choice format. All case studies asked the participant to record immediate first aid management. On a case by case basis, burn first aid knowledge was fair but overall knowledge very poor, only 18.8% of respondents achieving 4 correct responses. The uptake of first aid courses was high among HCW at 75% but particularly low among the NHCW at 28%. Our study has shown the value of performing such a course, with a statistically significant (p=0.00) difference between participants who had completed a first aid course and those that had not. The purpose of this study was to quantify knowledge of burns first aid with a view to providing directed education, studies have shown the success of multimedia campaigns. It has been shown that good first aid improves the outcome for the burn patient and this study demonstrates that participation in a first aid course improves knowledge. It is justifiable to progress toward compulsory first aid courses which include first aid of the burns patient to improve outcomes for the community as a whole.

An objective approach to antivenom therapy and assessment of first-aid measures in snake bite.

Treatment of systemic envenoming in snake-bite victims has, in the past, depended almost entirely on the individual clinician's experience in assessing the severity of envenoming. The efficacy of treatment is obviously related to the neutralizing potency of the antivenom used, the route by which it is administered and the dose. The development of enzyme immunoassays has permitted a more scientific appraisal, allowing estimation of circulating specific venom and antivenom concentrations at any time after the bite in the patient's blood. It is therefore possible to measure accurately the efficacy of antivenom in the neutralization and clearance of venom antigen. In Brazil, it appears that clinicians treat patients with excessive amounts of highly efficient antivenoms and this results in an unacceptably high incidence of reactions. In Sri Lanka, the use of imported, Indian antivenom is relatively ineffective in neutralizing the venoms of Sri Lankan snakes, demonstrating the real problem of venom variability within individual species. In West Africa, the improved clearance of venom following treatment of Echis victims with a monospecific as opposed to a polyspecific antivenom has been demonstrated, and new, smaller fragment, Fab antivenoms have been developed and are now under clinical assessment. Such clinically-based immunological studies should result in more efficient and controlled use of expensive antivenoms for treatment of systemic envenoming and the accurate assessment of newly designed products. Such studies also emphasise the importance of individual countries producing their own antivenoms for treatment of systemic envenoming. Likewise, the use of such objective systems now enables the use of first-aid measures such as tourniquets to be properly assessed.