RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF INTERVENTIONS PERFORMED BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAMS IN POLAND BEFORE AND DURING THE SARS COV-2 PANDEMIC.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus was recognized in December 2019 in China. From that moment it has quickly spread around the whole world. It causes COVID-19 disease manifested by breathlessness, coughing and high temperature. The COVID-19 pandemic has become a great challenge for humanity. The aim: To analyze interventions of emergency medical teams during the SAR-CoV-2 pandemic, and to compare obtained data with the same periods in 2018-2019. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: The study retrospectively analyzed interventions of emergency medical teams in the period from 15.03 to 15.05 in 2018 - 2020. 1,479,530 interventions of emergency medical teams were included in the study. The number of interventions, reasons for calls, and diagnoses made by heads of the emergency medical teams during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were compared to the same period in 2018-2019. RESULTS: Results: Authors observed the decline in the number of interventions performed by emergency medical teams during the pandemic in relation to earlier years by approximately 25%. The big decline concerned interventions that were the reason for calls to public places, such as "traffic accident" and "collapse". In the case of diagnoses made by the head of the emergency medical team, the diagnoses regarding stroke or sudden cardiac arrest remained at the similar level. Others showed a marked decline. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Reduced social activity contributed to a reduced number of interventions by emergency medical teams in public places. The societal fear of the unknown also contributed to the decrease in the number of interventions performed by emergency medical teams. People began to avoid contact with other people.

The Silesian Registry of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Study design and results of a three-month pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of the concept known as "Chain of Survival" has significantly increased survival rates in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), short-term mortality in this group of patients is still very high. Epidemiological data on OHCA in Poland are limited. The aim of this study was to create a prospective registry on OHCA covering a population of 2.7 million inhabitants of Upper Silesia in Poland. Presented herein is the study design and results of a 3-month pilot study. METHODS: The Silesian Registry of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (SIL-OHCA) is a prospective, population-based registry of OHCA, of minimum duration which was planned for 12 months; from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018. The first 3 months of the study constituted the pilot phase. The inclusion criterion is the occurrence of OHCA in the course of activity of the Voivodeship Rescue Service in Katowice, Poland. RESULTS: During the 3-month pilot phase of the study there were 390 cases of OHCA in which cardiopulmonary resuscitation was undertaken. Estimated frequency of OHCA in the population analyzed was 57 per 100,000 population per year. Shockable rhythm was present in 25.8% of cases. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 35.1% of the whole cohort. 28.7% of patients were admitted to the hospital, including 2.8% of patients, who were admitted during an ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital survival of patients with OHCA in Poland is still unsatisfactory. It is believed that data collected in SIL-OHCA registry will allow identification factors, which require improvement in order to reduce short- and long-term mortality of patients with OHCA.

[The role of medical dispatchers in the prehospital management of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Acute coronary syndromes are diagnosed in 1.5 million patients, in Poland about 140,000 patients per year. A medical dispatcher who has first contact with the patient or a witness of the accident plays a very important role. The aim: To analyze the quality indicators of the State Emergency Medical System, including the role of the medical dispatcher diling with patients with STEMI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: The medical documentation of the Voivodeship Emergency Medical Service in Katowice for the years 2013-2016 (n =915345)was analized a retrospective analysis. The study included those causes that ended with the diagnosed STEMI (870 cases). The final diagnosis was based on the data of the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes PL-ACS and AMI-PL. RESULTS: Results: STEMI was diagnosed in 870 visits (0.095%) causes. More often in men than in women (63.8% vs. 36.2%, p <0.001). The average age of the patients was 65 years ± 11.3. Most frequent STEMI occurred during the day (p <0.001). Patients either smoke or smoked in the past, a small proportion never smoked (78.3% vs 31.7%, p <0.001). The most frequent place occurrence of STEMI was the victim's home (p <0.001). The average time in the emergency code (K-1) was 6 min 29 seconds. It is worth noting that changing the code causes a dramatic increase in the time of a team reaching the place of an accident (p <0.001). The time of giving help is related to the time of day and the light of a conversation (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Medical dispatcher and Emergency Medical Teams play a key role diling with patients with STEMI. Conducting activities in accordance with the current medical knowledge leads to much lower mortality and results in a better quality of life for the patient and his family.