Evaluation of a 3D serious game for advanced life support retraining.

OBJECTIVE: Advanced life support (ALS) knowledge and skills decrease in as little as three months, but only a few ALS providers actually attend retraining courses. We assess the effectiveness of a 3D serious game as a new tool for frequent ALS retraining. METHODS: We developed a 3D serious game for scenario-based ALS retraining. The serious game, called EMSAVE, was designed to promote self-correction while playing. We organized a retraining course in which 40 ALS providers played two cardiac arrest scenarios with EMSAVE and took a test with 38 multiple-choice questions before and after playing. We administered the same test again 3 months later to evaluate retention. Participants also rated EMSAVE and the overall retraining experience. RESULTS: After using EMSAVE, the number of correct answers per participant increased by 4.8 (95%CI +3.4, +6.2, p<0.001) and all but one participant improved. After 3 months, despite an expected decrease in ALS knowledge and skills (-1.9 correct answers, 95%CI -0.6, -3.3, p<0.01), there was a significant retention benefit (+2.9 correct answers per participant, 95%CI +1.5, +4.2, p<0.001). Moreover, all but one participant regarded EMSAVE as a valuable tool to refresh ALS knowledge and skills, and 85% of participants were also willing to devote 1h/month to retrain with the serious game. CONCLUSIONS: A 3D serious game for scenario-based retraining proved effective to retrain in ALS and supported retention of acquired knowledge and skills at 3 months. EMSAVE also positively engaged and motivated participants.

Predictive value of electrocardiogram in diagnosing acute coronary artery lesions among patients with out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest.

AIMS: Acute coronary lesions are known to be the most common trigger of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of ST-segment changes in diagnosing the presence of acute coronary lesions among OHCA patients METHODS: Findings of coronary angiography (CA) performed in patients resuscitated from OCHA were retrospectively reviewed and related to ST-segment changes on post-ROSC electrocardiogram (ECG) RESULTS: Ninety-one patients underwent CA after OHCA; 44% of patients had ST-segment elevation and 56% of patients had other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was found in 86% of patients; CAD was observed in 98% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 77% of patients with other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG (p=0.004). Acute or presumed recent coronary artery lesions were diagnosed in 56% of patients, respectively in 85% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 33% of patients with other ECG patterns (p<0.001). ST-segment analysis on post-ROSC ECG has a good positive predictive value but a low negative predictive value in diagnosing the presence of acute or presumed recent coronary artery lesions (85% and 67%, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic findings after OHCA should not be considered as strict selection criteria for performing emergent CA in patients resuscitated from OHCA without obvious extra-cardiac cause; even in the absence of ST-segment elevation on post-ROSC ECG, acute culprit coronary lesions may be present and considered the trigger of cardiac arrest.

Flight vibrations and bleeding in helicoptered patients with pelvic fracture.

Depending on their amplitude and frequency, vibrations may facilitate bleeding and worsen the prognosis of patients with pelvic fractures transported by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). We measured the range of frequencies and amplitudes of forced vibrations produced by the helicopter used by the HEMS of the Italian Friuli Venezia Giulia region on the pelvis of transported persons. We performed 3 flight tests with 3 different volunteers (mass 70, 80, and 90 kg, respectively) loaded on the helicopter's stretcher and recorded the amplitudes and frequencies of vibrations through a triaxis sensor placed on the HEMS stretcher in the pelvis area. The flight profile planned was identical for each of the 3 iterations. Over the whole flight, the frequencies of vibration were between 26.4 and 53.5 Hz, and the greastest amplitude was 0.035 mm. The vibrations recorded in the helicopter may facilitate bleeding in unstable fractures. In the management of patients with pelvic fractures, HEMS crews should provide prehospital care that includes the use of specific splinting devices in addition to the spinal board, which allows an early immobilization of fractures and the limitation of pelvic motion.

Impact of emergency coronary angiography on in-hospital outcome of unconscious survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Acute coronary thrombotic occlusion is the most common trigger of cardiac arrest. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of an invasive strategy characterized by emergency coronary angiography and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), if indicated, on in-hospital survival of resuscitated patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and no obvious extracardiac cause who do not regain consciousness soon after recovery of spontaneous circulation. Ninety-three consecutive patients (67 ± 12 years old, 76% men) were included in the study. Clinical characteristics and coronary angiographic and in-hospital outcome data were retrospectively collected. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis was performed to identify independent determinants of in-hospital survival. Coronary angiography was performed in 66 patients (71%). Forty-eight patients underwent emergency coronary angiography; in the remaining 18 patients, mean time from OHCA to coronary angiography was 13 ± 10 days. In patients referred to emergency coronary angiography, successful emergency PCI of a culprit coronary lesion was performed in 25 patients (52%). In-hospital survival rate was 54%. At multivariate analysis, emergency coronary angiography (hazard ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval 1.23 to 4.38, p = 0.009) and successful emergency PCI (hazard ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.35 to 4.8, p = 0.004) were independently related to in-hospital survival in the overall study population; delay in performing coronary angiography (hazard ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.99, p = 0.013) was independently related to in-hospital mortality in patients referred to coronary angiography. In conclusion, an invasive strategy characterized by emergency coronary angiography and subsequent PCI, if indicated, seems to improve in-hospital outcome of resuscitated but unconscious patients with OHCA without obvious extracardiac cause.

Influence of helicopter flight on temperature of helicopter EMS crewmembers.

INTRODUCTION: Thermoregulation of critically ill patients during helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) transport can be influenced by the flight, increasing the risk of hypothermia. However, the literature is unclear as to whether temperature decrease among those patients is affected by the flight itself or by the patients' clinical status and therapies. We evaluated the effect of helicopter flight on the body temperature of the healthy members of the HEMS crew of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy. METHODS: From August 12 to September 3, 2009, and from February 12 to April 1, 2010, tympanic temperature was measured, on a voluntary basis, before and after the flight among the crewmembers. The effect of flight and personal characteristics on temperature after the flight was analyzed through multivariate regression. RESULTS: Ninety-five records were analyzed. On average, the temperature increased by 0.2 ± 0.5°C. In 29.5% of the cases, however, it decreased. The only factors that were significantly associated with the temperature after the flight were temperature at liftoff and mountain rescue flights. CONCLUSION: Among healthy subjects, the helicopter vibrations may induce an increase in body temperature. Small sample size and lack of information on a number of potential confounders prevented the identification of the possible determinants of a temperature decrease among some subjects.

Influence of stressors on HEMS crewmembers in flight.

INTRODUCTION: Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) crew are subject to various sources of environmental, physical, and psychological stress. We measured the changes in heart rate and blood pressure as indicators of stress among the crewmembers of the regional HEMS of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. METHODS: From August 12 to September 3, 2009, and from February 12 to April 1, 2010, heart rate (HR), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured, on a voluntary basis, before and after each flight among the crewmembers. Oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) was also recorded. The effects of flight and personal characteristics on the parameters after the flight were analyzed through multivariate regression. RESULTS: Data on 95 work shifts, corresponding to 162 flights, were collected. Only the HR changed significantly after the flight (median change: 15 beats/min considering all the flights). The increase in HR was significantly greater in flights with adverse weather conditions, in hostile environments, and at high altitude than in the others. The change in HR was inversely correlated with that of SpO(2). After adjusting for potential confounders, the HR after the flight was significantly higher among technical personnel than among physicians and nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in HR after the flight indicates that the HEMS crew are exposed to stressful conditions during the mission. Monitoring such parameters may be helpful in recognizing the onset of acute stress and ensuring the safety of the patients and the crew themselves.

Influence of prehospital treatment on the outcome of patients with severe blunt traumatic brain injury: a single-centre study.

UNLABELLED: AIM, PATIENTS, AND METHODS: To compare retrospectively the outcomes of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (Injury Severity Score, ISS total >or=15; the Abbreviated ISS-head, aISS(head) >or=9) admitted to our Intensive Care Unit by helicopter (helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS group = 89) with those transported by ambulance (GROUND group = 105) from January 2002 to December 2007. RESULTS: The groups were comparable for age, Glasgow Coma Scale, ISS total, and aISS(head). The preadmission time of the HEMS group was significantly longer as compared with the GROUND group, but the interval from admission to definitive care was significantly shorter. In the prehospital phase, HEMS patients were more aggressively treated, as indicated by a significantly greater number of procedures performed (i.e. tracheal intubation and positioning of intravenous lines) and larger volumes of fluids infused. The overall mortality was lower in the HEMS than in the GROUND patients (21 vs. 25% respectively, P<0.05). The survival with or without only minor neurological disabilities was higher in the HEMS than in the GROUND group (54 vs. 44% respectively, P<0.05); among the survivors, the rate of severe neurological disabilities was lower in the HEMS than in the GROUND group (25 vs. 31%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In our experience, aggressive early treatment of patients with severe traumatic brain injury was associated with a better outcome likely because of the prevention of secondary brain injury and a shorter interval elapsing from the trauma to definitive care despite more time spent on the scene by the intervening team.

Simple thoracostomy in prehospital trauma management is safe and effective: a 2-year experience by helicopter emergency medical crews.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and potential complications of simple thoracostomy, as first described by Deakin, as a method for prehospital treatment of traumatic pneumothorax. METHODS: Prospective observational study of all severe trauma patients rescued by our Regional Helicopter Emergency Medical Service and treated with on-scene simple thoracostomy, over a period of 25 months, from June 1, 2002 to June 30, 2004. RESULTS: Fifty-five consecutive severely injured patients with suspected pneumothorax and an average Revised Trauma Score of 9.6+/-2.7 underwent field simple thoracostomy. Oxygen saturation significantly improved after the procedure (from 86.4+/-10.2% to 98.5%+/-4.7%, P<0.05). No difference exists in the severity of thoracic lesions between patients with systolic arterial pressure and oxygen saturation below and above or equal to 90. A pneumothorax or a haemopneumothorax was found in 91.5% of the cases and a haemothorax in 5.1%. No cases of major bleeding, lung laceration or pleural infection were recorded. No cases of recurrent tension pneumothorax were observed. Forty (72.7%) patients survived to hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital treatment of traumatic pneumothorax by simple thoracostomy without chest tube insertion is a safe and effective technique.

Abdominal ultrasonography and chest radiography are of limited value in the emergency room diagnostic work-up of severe trauma patients with hypotension on the scene of accident.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability of chest radiograph (CR) and abdominal ultrasonography (US) performed in the Emergency Room (ER) in identifying life-threatening thoracic or abdominal lesions in a group of severely injured patients, who developed arterial hypotension immediately after a trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of all abdominal US and CX performed in the ER in severe blunt trauma patients, with on-the-scene systolic blood pressure 90 mmHg, from November 2000 to November 2002, were analysed. When these initial investigations failed to identify a possible cause of hypotension, a computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen was obtained. RESULTS: Overall, 54 patients were studied; twenty-two patients (40.8%) were hypotensive both on accident scene and on the arrival at the ER and 32 (59.2%) were hypotensive on accident scene, but not in the ER. Forty-five patients had an US in the ER, in 3 patients it was inconclusive, whereas 2 other patients died before the confirmatory investigations could be performed. Among the remaining 40 patients, 11 had a hemoperitoneum (HP) hat was diagnosed by US in 7 cases and missed in 4. Twenty-nine patients had no HP and their US was negative in 24 cases and positive in 5; the US had a sensibility of 63.6% and a specificity of 82.8% The CR was obtained in the ER in 39 patients and it was able to identify 6 pneumothoraces (PNX) out of 20 and 2 hemothoraces (HT) out of 17; the sensitivity for PNX and HT was 30.0% and 11.8%, respectively. One patient with an aortic dissection had a normal CX. CONCLUSIONS: Both CX and US are not reliable to identify possible PNX, HT and HP in hypotensive trauma patients and can delay the treatment of life-threatening conditions. In these patients, a CT of the torso is warranted.