Development of a national out-of-hospital transfusion protocol: a modified RAND Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Early resuscitation with blood components or products is emerging as best practice in selected patients with trauma and medical patients; as a result, out-of-hospital transfusion (OHT) programs are being developed based on limited and often conflicting evidence. This study aimed to provide guidance to Canadian critical care transport organizations on the development of OHT protocols. METHODS: The study period was July 2021 to June 2022. We used a modified RAND Delphi process to achieve consensus on statements created by the study team guiding various aspects of OHT in the context of critical care transport. Purposive sampling ensured representative distribution of participants in regard to geography and relevant clinical specialties. We conducted 2 written survey Delphi rounds, followed by a virtual panel discussion (round 3). Consensus was defined as a median score of at least 6 on a Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Definitely should not include") to 7 ("Definitely should include"). Statements that did not achieve consensus in the first 2 rounds were discussed and voted on during the panel discussion. RESULTS: Seventeen subject experts participated in the study, all of whom completed the 3 Delphi rounds. After the study process was completed, a total of 39 statements were agreed on, covering the following domains: general oversight and clinical governance, storage and transport of blood components and products, initiation of OHT, types of blood components and products, delivery and monitoring of OHT, indications for and use of hemostatic adjuncts, and resuscitation targets of OHT. INTERPRETATION: This expert consensus document provides guidance on OHT best practices. The consensus statements should support efficient and safe OHT in national and international critical care transport programs.

Airway registries in primarily adult, emergent endotracheal intubation: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Department (ED) airway registries are formalized methods to collect and document airway practices and outcomes. Airway registries have become increasingly common in EDs globally; yet there is no consensus of airway registry methodology or intended utility. This review builds on previous literature and aims to provide a thorough description of international ED airway registries and discuss how airway registry data is utilized. METHODS: A search of Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Libraries, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed with no date limitations applied. English language full-text publications and grey literature from centres implementing an ongoing airway registry to monitor intubations performed in mainly adult patients in an ED setting were included. Non-English publications and publications describing airway registries to monitor intubation practices in predominantly paediatric patients or settings outside of the ED were excluded. Study screening for eligibility was performed by two team members individually, with any disagreements resolved by a third team member. Data was charted using a standardized data charting tool created for this review. RESULTS: Our review identified 124 eligible studies from 22 airway registries with a global distribution. We found that airway registry data is used for quality assurance, quality improvement, and clinical research regarding intubation practices and contextual factors. This review also demonstrates that there is a great deal of heterogeneity in definitions of first-pass success and adverse events in the peri-intubation period. CONCLUSIONS: Airway registries are used as a crucial tool to monitor and improve intubation performance and patient care. ED airway registries inform and document the efficacy of quality improvement initiatives to improve intubation performance in EDs globally. Standardized definitions of first-pass success and peri-intubation adverse events, such as hypotension and hypoxia, may allow for airway management performance to be compared on a more equivalent basis and allow for the development of more reliable international benchmarks for first-pass success and rates of adverse events in the future.

The effect of a multi-faceted quality improvement program on paramedic intubation success in the critical care transport environment: a before-and-after study.

INTRODUCTION: Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is an infrequent but key component of prehospital and retrieval medicine. Common measures of quality of ETI are the first pass success rates (FPS) and ETI on the first attempt without occurrence of hypoxia or hypotension (DASH-1A). We present the results of a multi-faceted quality improvement program (QIP) on paramedic FPS and DASH-1A rates in a large regional critical care transport organization. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective database analysis, comparing FPS and DASH-1A rates before and after implementation of the QIP. We included all patients undergoing advanced airway management with a first strategy of ETI during the time period from January 2016 to December 2021. RESULTS: 484 patients met the inclusion criteria during the study period. Overall, the first pass intubation success (FPS) rate was 72% (350/484). There was an increase in FPS from the pre-intervention period (60%, 86/144) to the post-intervention period (86%, 148/173), p < 0.001. DASH-1A success rates improved from 45% (55/122) during the pre-intervention period to 55% (84/153) but this difference did not meet pre-defined statistical significance (p = 0.1). On univariate analysis, factors associated with improved FPS rates were the use of video-laryngoscope (VL), neuromuscular blockage, and intubation inside a healthcare facility. CONCLUSIONS: A multi-faceted advanced airway management QIP resulted in increased FPS intubation rates and a non-significant improvement in DASH-1A rates. A combination of modern equipment, targeted training, standardization and ongoing clinical governance is required to achieve and maintain safe intubation by paramedics in the prehospital and retrieval environment.

Does utilization of an intubation safety checklist reduce omissions during simulated resuscitation scenarios: a multi-center randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Checklists have been used to decrease adverse events associated with medical procedures. Simulation provides a safe setting in which to evaluate a new checklist. The objective of this study was to determine if the use of a novel peri-intubation checklist would decrease practitioners' rates of omission of tasks during simulated airway management scenarios. METHODS: Fifty-four emergency medicine (EM) practitioners from two academic centers were randomized to either their usual approach or use of our checklist, then completed three simulated airway management scenarios. A minimum of two assessors documented the number of tasks omitted and the time until definitive airway management. Discrepancies between assessors were resolved by single assessor video review. Participants also completed a post-simulation survey. RESULTS: The average percentage of omitted tasks over three scenarios was 45.7% in the control group (n = 25) and 13.5% in the checklist group (n = 29)-an absolute difference of 32.2% (95% CI 27.8, 36.6%). Time to definitive airway management was longer in the checklist group in the first two of three scenarios (difference of 110.0 s, 95% CI 55.0 to 167.0; 83.0 s, 95% CI 35.0 to 128.0; and 36.0 s, 95% CI -18.0 to 98.0 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this dual-center, randomized controlled trial, use of an airway checklist in a simulated setting significantly decreased the number of important airway tasks omitted by EM practitioners, but increased time to definitive airway management.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Des listes de contrôle ont été utilisées pour réduire les événements indésirables associés aux procédures médicales. La simulation offre un cadre sûr pour évaluer une nouvelle liste de contrôle. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer si l'utilisation d'une nouvelle liste de contrôle de péri-intubation permettrait de réduire les taux d'omission de tâches des praticiens lors de scénarios de gestion des voies aériennes simulés. MéTHODES: Cinquante-quatre praticiens de médecine d'urgence de deux centres universitaires ont été randomisés selon leur approche habituelle ou l'utilisation de notre liste de contrôle, puis ont réalisé trois scénarios de gestion des voies aériennes simulés. Un minimum de deux évaluateurs ont documenté le nombre de tâches omises et le délai avant la gestion définitive des voies respiratoires. Les divergences entre les évaluateurs ont été résolues par la revue vidéo d'un seul évaluateur. Les participants ont également rempli une enquête post-simulation. RéSULTATS: Le pourcentage moyen de tâches omises sur trois scénarios était de 45,7 % dans le groupe témoin (n = 25) et de 13,5 % dans le groupe liste de contrôle (n = 29) - une différence absolue de 32,2 % (IC à 95 %: 27,8 %, 36,6 %). Le délai de prise en charge définitive des voies respiratoires était plus long dans le groupe liste de contrôle dans les deux premiers des trois scénarios (différence de 110,0 s, IC à 95% : 55,0 à 167,0 ; 83,0 s, IC à 95 % : 35,0 à 128,0 ; et 36,0 s, IC à 95 % : -18,0 à 98,0 respectivement). CONCLUSIONS: Dans cet essai contrôlé randomisé à double centre, l'utilisation d'une liste de contrôle des voies respiratoires dans un environnement simulé a considérablement réduit le nombre de tâches importantes des voies respiratoires omises par les praticiens de médecine d'urgence, mais a prolongé le délai de prise en charge définitive des voies aérienne.

Predictors of Hypothermia upon Trauma Center Arrival in Severe Trauma Patients Transported to Hospital via EMS.

Introduction: Hypothermia in severe trauma patients can increase mortality by 25%. Active warming practices decrease mortality and are recommended in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines. Despite this, many emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles do not carry equipment necessary to perform active warming. The intent of this study was to determine the rate of hypothermia in severe trauma patients upon major trauma center (MTC) arrival, as well as to characterize factors associated with hypothermia in trauma in order to devote potential resources to those at highest risk. Methods: This single-center retrospective chart review included adults (age ≥ 18) in the local trauma registry (trauma team activation or injury severity score ≥12) from January 2009 to June 2016. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of hypothermia on MTC arrival. Results: A total of 3,070 patient charts were reviewed, of which 159 (5.2%) were hypothermic. Multivariate logistic regression identified 7 factors that were significantly associated with hypothermia on MTC arrival in severe trauma. Risk factors for hypothermia on MTC arrival after severe trauma included: intubation pre-MTC, increased number of co-morbidities, and increased injury severity. Conversely, protective factors against hypothermia were: higher initial systolic blood pressure (SBP), penetrating injury, referral to MTC, and higher ambient outdoor temperatures. Median length of stay in hospital was 7 days for hypothermic patients compared to 4 days for normothermic patients (Δ 3 days; p < 0.001). Only 69.2% of hypothermic patients survived to discharge compared to 93.9% of normothermic patients (Δ 24.7%; χ2 = 133.4, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This retrospective study of hypothermia in major trauma patients found a rate of hypothermia of 5%. Factors associated with higher risk of hypothermia include pre-MTC intubation, high ISS, multiple comorbidities, low SBP, non-penetrating mechanism of injury, and being transferred directly to MTC, and colder outdoor temperature. Avoidance of hypothermia is imperative to the management of major trauma patients. Prospective studies are required to determine if prehospital warming in these high-risk patients decreases the rate of hypothermia in major trauma and improves patient outcomes.

Effect of out-of-hospital noninvasive positive-pressure support ventilation in adult patients with severe respiratory distress: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is increasingly being used by emergency medical services (EMS) for treatment of patients in respiratory distress. The primary objective of this systematic review is to determine whether out-of-hospital NIPPV for treatment of adults with severe respiratory distress reduces inhospital mortality compared with "standard" therapy. Secondary objectives are to examine the need for invasive ventilation, hospital and ICU length of stay, and complications. METHODS: Electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were conducted and reference lists of relevant articles hand searched. Randomized controlled trials comparing out-of-hospital NIPPV with standard therapy in adults (aged ≥16 years) with severe respiratory distress published in English were included. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts, assessed quality of the studies, and extracted data. Data were pooled with random-effects models and reported as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and number needed to treat (NNT). RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials were included, with a combined total of 632 patients; 313 in the standard therapy group and 319 in the NIPPV group. In patients treated with NIPPV, the pooled estimate showed a reduction in both inhospital mortality (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.95; NNT=18) and need for invasive ventilation (RR 0.37; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.58; NNT=8). There was no difference in ICU or hospital length of stay. CONCLUSION: Out-of-hospital administration of NIPPV appears to be an effective therapy for adult patients with severe respiratory distress.

Is pretest probability assessment on emergency department patients with suspected venous thromboembolism documented before SimpliRED D-dimer testing?

BACKGROUND: The SimpliRED D-dimer assay is commonly ordered by emergency physicians for suspected pulmonary embolus or deep venous thrombosis. A pretest probability (PTP) assessment is required for the results of this diagnostic test to be interpreted correctly and applied appropriately. Without this assessment, the physician may misinterpret the test results and proceed to unnecessary diagnostic imaging (DI) or inappropriate discharge. Our objectives were to measure the documentation rate of PTP for emergency department (ED) patients on whom a SimpliRED D-dimer assay was performed for suspected venous thromboembolism (VTE) and to determine if the clinical management decisions that followed were in keeping with current recommendations. METHODS: In this medical record review, we used a random number generator to select 100 charts from all 760 patients who had a SimpliRED D-dimer performed during a 3-month period at an academic tertiary care centre with 3 EDs. Trained data abstractors, blinded to the study hypothesis, abstracted explicitly defined data from each chart. An independent abstractor assessed the reliability of 15 of the charts that were randomly chosen. RESULTS: Suspicion of VTE was documented in 97 of the 100 charts. There was no documentation of PTP assessment for 62 of the 97 cases. Ten had a positive D-dimer but 5 of these had no evidence of subsequent DI. Of the 97 charts reviewed, 24 documented decisions were in discordance with published clinical management recommendations for VTE. CONCLUSION: In the majority of ED cases of suspected VTE, PTP assessment was not documented and approximately one-quarter of these documented decisions were in discordance with established recommendations for the given test results. This suggests that PTP assessments are not being conducted in a significant proportion of cases and the diagnostic test results are misinterpreted, applied incorrectly or both.